Mayor Fandakova: The Heating Season for Sofia Residents will be Ensured

Business » ENERGY | August 13, 2022, Saturday // 10:45
Bulgaria: Mayor Fandakova: The Heating Season for Sofia Residents will be Ensured @stolica.bg

The heating season for Sofia residents will be ensured and there will be no shortage of gas”. This was stated by the Mayor of Sofia, Yordanka Fandakova, in the studio of Nova TV.

"We all consider the prices and the possibilities. We worry about what lies ahead this winter. We carefully monitor the costs of municipal buildings, schools, theaters, galleries, but the most important thing is the heating of the people and whether there will be gas during this heating season," she said.

"Yesterday, I had a meeting with the Minister of Energy, who assured me that the heating season for the people of Sofia will be ensured and there will be no shortage of gas," said Fandakova.

According to her, "Toplofikatsia Sofia" (Heating Systems Sofia) provides heating to about 1 million people and this service has no alternative. "That is why it is important that the threats that we heard in the last days of the previous chairman of Energy Commission, that Sofia will be without gas from September 1, are no longer on the agenda," commented the capital's mayor.

Yordanka Fandakova also commented on the debts of Toplofikatsia Sofia.

"We are all worried after the latest decision of EWRC from this week for a gas price of nearly BGN 300 per megawatt hour. For both citizens and businesses, these are unbearable prices. "Toplofikatsia Sofia buys the gas at the same price. At the same time, the price at which it sells thermal energy is based on the fixed price of gas from the EWRC of BGN 122. This is a difference of nearly BGN 180 for each megawatt hour and is a continuous accumulation of new obligations", she pointed out and specified that the expectations are for August alone, from these differences, "Toplofikatsia Sofia" accumulated new obligations of 52 million.

"These are unpaid bills to Bulgargaz. It is necessary to look for a common solution", added the mayor of Sofia.

Fandakova was categorical that the people cannot be burdened with a new increase in the prices of thermal energy, but at the same time it is clear that the losses for "Toplofikatsia Sofia" will continue to accumulate. "That's why we will continue the talks about looking for the solution for the whole system together because the companies in the energy sector are like connected vessels", she pointed out.

Asked if the cost of heating and hot water in Sofia were to rise, by how much it could be, the capital's mayor replied: "I think there is no such danger. This is not possible. The decision is of EWRC. We have not held talks, but the price was determined by the previous composition from July 1 and it will be valid for the beginning of the heating season".

Regarding whether there will be energy savings in public buildings, Yordanka Fandakova stated that heating will certainly decrease in the buildings of the municipal administration.

"I hope for schools, kindergartens and hospitals that we won't have a problem. It is very important that the school year starts and continues in a normal rhythm after the years of the pandemic. We are looking at administrative buildings and street lighting," she added.

When asked if it is possible to introduce an energy efficiency regime in Sofia, she answered: "If there is no problem with heating with Toplofikatsia Sofia, then I hope this will not be necessary."

In connection with the upcoming elections, she commented that during the campaign her colleagues from GERB will clearly state their programs and priorities, but the most important thing is how the current crises will be resolved. "They are solved with pragmatism, as well as with a very serious and responsible attitude. I think that so far we have proven exactly this style of work", comments Fandakova.

Regarding the call of "We Continue the Change" regarding Boyko Borissov and for him to retire, she said: "These are such frivolous things. People are tired of listening to empty rhetoric, worried about how they will pay the prices to come this season. We are all anxious so to exchange such words is unnecessary. A lot of people don't pay attention to these things."

Asked if she would run for mayor of Sofia in the local elections next year, she replied: "The situation is extremely dynamic. What I am focused on is ensuring the heating season and the execution of our program. At the moment, this topic is not on the agenda. We still have a lot of work to do."

Follow Novinite.com on Twitter and Facebook

Write to us at editors@novinite.com

Информирайте се на Български - Novinite.bg

/Nova

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!

Energy » Be a reporter: Write and send your article
Tags: Fandakova, sofia, heating, mayor

Advertisement
Advertisement
Bulgaria news Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency - www.sofianewsagency.com) is unique with being a real time news provider in English that informs its readers about the latest Bulgarian news. The editorial staff also publishes a daily online newspaper "Sofia Morning News." Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency - www.sofianewsagency.com) and Sofia Morning News publish the latest economic, political and cultural news that take place in Bulgaria. Foreign media analysis on Bulgaria and World News in Brief are also part of the web site and the online newspaper. News Bulgaria