The energy cooperation memorandum signed with Ukraine the other day has a wider context than Bulgaria’s attempt to sell the Russian equipment for the Belene NPP to Kyiv, and the interest of the Ukrainian side is not only in it, but also in the possibilities of transferring liquefied gas through Bulgaria and its storage in “Chiren”, as well as for exchange and trade in electricity and cooperation in the field of green hydrogen and renewable energy sources.
This was announced by the Bulgarian Ministry of Energy a day after the initialing of the document by the energy ministers of the two countries, Rumen Radev and Herman Halushchenko, during the visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to Sofia.
The first working meeting between the two ministers and experts and representatives of energy companies from both countries has already been held.
The formal negotiation process for the sale of the equipment for the Belene NPP for BGN 1.176 billion has been completed, in compliance with the decision of the Parliament, which obliges Minister Radev to complete the negotiations within 30 days.
The negotiations will continue in different formats and with a schedule of work consistent with the time limits set by the decision of the Bulgarian Parliament, the Ministry of Energy states.
In the course of the talks, the two sides united around the thesis that this is a historic chance in which the interests of both sides coincide.
“Bulgaria has partially delivered equipment that is not enough to build an entire new capacity. The dynamics in the energy sector are such that Bulgaria cannot afford to commit to a long, expensive and uncertain project. It must move quickly in sync with the common European energy market and to invest in feasible new alternative capacities. Ukraine has a serious interest in Bulgarian equipment, which it needs to compensate for lost energy capacities, including as a result of the temporary occupation of the Zaporizhia NPP, he points out in the announcement of the Ministry of Energy.
It adds that the two ministers are of the opinion that the memorandum of cooperation aims at a much broader development of energy cooperation that will support the economic and infrastructural development of the entire region.
Further work meetings are coming up.
