The next two years will be tough on Bulgaria when it comes to electricity.

That has emerged from a statement of Emergy Minister Rumen Ovcharov, who admitted that energy imports might be necessary.

At present, Bulgaria is an exporter but the nearing EU-enjoined closure of two nuclear units will drastically decrease the energy produce.

Ovcharov was not too optimistic about the construction of the second Bulgarian nuclear power plant either.

Bulgaria's experience in building new power plants and getting them started has faded, the minister pointed out.

In his words, the Belene plant would not start functioning until 2010.

The country has seen passionate debates on whether the EU demand to shut Kozloduy's units 3 and 4 should be met.

Experts have argued that the reactors could continue to work safely for years after the EU-set deadline, 2006.

The cost of Bulgaria-produced electricity is expected to jump by almost 60% after the shutdown.

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