Industrial energy consumers in Bulgaria have called for a 23% reduction in gas prices from April, instead of the 13% price decrease proposed by state-owned gas supplier Bulgargaz.

Konstantin Stamenov, Chair of the Management Board of the Bulgarian Federation of Industrial Energy Consumers (BFIEC), argued that gas prices in the region had plummeted as a result of the falling crude oil prices.

Stamenov, as cited by the Bulgarian National Radio, noted that the difference between gas prices in Bulgaria, in neighboring countries, and on a global scale made it impossible for the Bulgarian economy to be competitive, to create jobs, and to re-invest.

“Prices in two of Bulgaria’s neighboring countries are lower by around BGN 100 per 1000 cubic meters of gas. This is detrimental to energy-intensive industry and instead of attracting investments and retaining the investors who are already here, we shall discourage further decisions for investments and job creation,” Stamenov said.

Industrial energy consumers call for an urgent meeting of the Security Council at the Council of Ministers and for the adoption of urgent measures to tackle the threat to the economic security of the country.