EU Member States have agreed to allocate some 647 million euro under a program called Connecting Europe Facility. Financing is provided for approved important projects that provide development in the energy sector and energy independence. Financing is mostly directed towards gas and electricity projects in the region of Southeastern Europe and the Baltic Sea. Approved Bulgarian projects total some 4 million euro. The Chaira Pumped Storage Hydro Power Plant will receive most of the financing. The European financing allocated for Greece will also have an effect on Bulgaria as it plans for connecting the Bulgarian Thermal Electric Plant of Maritza Iztok to the Greek electrical grid.

In relation to the idea for European energy connection the fifth regional conference on the topic of energy security and development took place in Sofia. More than 120 international experts from 11 European countries took part in the meeting and according to Deputy Prime Minister responsible for economy, Ekatrerina Zharieva, all EU Member States will be working together  for creating an energy union in Europe. Bulgaria has done little for the diversification of gas supplies and that is why interconnectors with neighboring countries was of great priority for the interim government of Georgi Bliznashki. According to Deputy PM Zaharieva, important priorities were good management of state companies in the energy sphere, liberalization of the sector and energy efficiency. Energy security is crucial for the development of the economy, Minister Zaharieva said at the opening of the forum. Reporters asked about the conditions for gas supplies to Bulgaria keeping in mind the ongoing negotiations between Moscow and Kiev over gas supplies. According to Minister Zaharieva, reduced gas pressure has been registered, which raises questions about heating in the winter. However, the Minister said there was no need to worry.

“The situation is under constant monitoring in order not to allow a gas crisis to take place. In relation to the risk of a gas crisis the EC conducted stress tests and made various recommendations to Member States. One of the measures is the Varna TPP to continue work. A major priority is building interconnectors. The gas link with Romania is almost complete but unfortunately we would not be able to use it this winter. We have been assured that the Romanian contractor would complete its work but if this cannot happen, a new one will be found.”

A guest to the conference was British Ambassador to Bulgaria H. E. Jonathan Allen. According to him, the South Stream gas pipeline project was not of great economic interest but was a political project with the idea to increase the destabilization of Ukraine.

English: A Markov