More than ten foreign companies showed interest in the privatisation of the Varna, Bobovdol and Russe coal—fired thermal power plants, the director of the Foreign Investments Agency Nikolay Marinov announced. Another ten are interested in the privatisation of the small hydro-power stations. Marinov expressed the opinion that the privatisation of the energy sector will contribute mostly to the proceeds from sell-offs for next year. According to preliminary data released by the central bank, foreign direct investments for 2001 stood at USD 650,9 M i.e. 35 percent under the 2000 figure. Privatization proceeds in 2001 total USD 366 M while in 2001 they were USD 19 M.