Bulgaria's Minister of Energy and Economy Petar Dimitrov (R) is pictured here with the Deputy Director of the Russian energy giant Gazprom Alexander Medvedev during his surprise visit to Sofia in January. Photo by BGNES
Just ten days after visiting Moscow to secure funding for Belene nuclear power plant, the energy minister will be heading for the Russian capital again.
The visit of Petar Dimitrov, whose official aim is the preparation of the upcoming meeting of the Bulgarian-Russian intergovernmental commission, is believed to highlight important energy issues, such as Bulgaria's contract with Russian energy giant Gazprom and the construction of Belene nuclear power plant.
Bulgaria's state gas monopoly Bulgargaz has recently announced they are not ready with a new draft contract with Gazprom, which makes highly unlikely the negotiation of new conditions before the term of the current government expires this summer.
The Bulgarian government is however expected to complete talks for Russian funding for the planned EUR 4,0 B nuclear power plant at Belene. The government chose last year German power utility RWE to become a strategic partner in the Belene project with a stake of 49%. State power utility NEK has a majority stake in the plant.