Bulgarians Join Balkan Protest Against Soaring Food Prices
Bulgaria has joined Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro in organizing protests against rising food prices
Amidst ongoing uncertainties surrounding the Belene nuclear power plant, Bulgaria's Energy Minister, Rumen Radev, revealed on Friday a strategic decision to postpone the sale of equipment from the unfinished facility to Ukraine. The key factor behind this move is Bulgaria's keen anticipation of a more cohesive and unified EU stance, particularly concerning financial support for Ukraine. Radev expressed confidence that progress toward EU consensus will be achieved before any transaction proceeds. The minister emphasized that the equipment marked for potential sale is currently in excellent condition, indicating its suitability for deployment. Additionally, Radev clarified that the waiting period has allowed Bulgaria to explore the potential domestic use of certain components, such as parts of the steam generators. Despite theoretical considerations, it has been firmly established that these components are not needed for Bulgaria's own energy requirements.
This delay in the sale of Belene's nuclear equipment underscores Bulgaria's cautious approach, taking into account both geopolitical dynamics and the importance of a synchronized EU position before engaging in transactions of strategic significance.
For the ninth consecutive year (excluding 2022), the electrical industry remains the largest contributor to Bulgaria's exports, as reported by the Bulgarian Association of Electrical Engineering and Electronics (BASEL)
European natural gas prices have climbed above €55 per megawatt-hour for the first time in 16 months, driven by colder temperatures across the continent that are increasing demand for heating fuel
Serbian oil and gas company NIS, controlled by Russia’s Gazprom, is considering exiting its operations in Bulgaria and Romania due to ongoing difficulties in both markets
The Russian company Lukoil initiated the process of selling its Bulgarian assets in June last year, Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov announced during a parliamentary hearing
In 2023, 10.6% of the population in the European Union reported being unable to keep their homes adequately warm
The Bulgarian government has announced a program to compensate businesses and non-household electricity subscribers for high energy costs until the end of March
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