New draft energy strategy

A new draft energy strategy for the period to 2020 has been published by the Ministry of Economy and Energy.

The new draft follows the accomplishment of the aims set out in the 2002 energy strategy, including bringing national legislation broadly into line with EU law through the 2003 Energy Act in 2003 and subsequent amendments.

Despite of the shut-down of Kozloduy NPP Units 1-4, the draft envisages sufficient electricity production both to satisfy internal demand and to maintain Bulgaria’s position as  the leading electricity exporter in Southeast Europe.

It also envisages being able to meet 9.4% of total energy consumption from current renewable energy sources, rising to meet the European Commission’s target of 16% by 2020. This will be achieved by implementing some strategic projects and two strategic decisions named "Overcoming the Differences" and "Use of the Potential".

The main strategic projects mentioned in the draft are:
 

• Coal: the rehabilitation of Maritza East 2 and 3 TPPs and the development of Maritza East 4 with CO2 capturing technology
• Nuclear: NPP Belene (no alternative development of Kozloduy NPP Units 7 and 8)
• Hydro: finalising Tzankov Kamyk and continuing developments with the Gorna Arda, Nikopol – Turno Magurele and Nikopol – Kalarash projects
• Electricity: extending the networks through completion of Energy 2 project, finalizing the 400kV network with Macedonia, building a second 400kV line with Greece and conducting a feasibility study for potential networks from Vidin to Serbia and from Belene NPP to Romania
• CHP: building new combined heat and power facilities to replace the current outdated plants and increase CHP production in line with one of the Draft’s strategic goals
• Oil: the oil pipelines Burgas – Alexandropolis and Burgas – Vlora are the strategic projects that will transmit mostly Russian oil
• Natural Gas: key gas pipeline priorities will be Nabucco and South Stream, with the aim to increase the number of natural gas storage facilities and build a new regional LNG storage facility