Bulgargaz wants a record increase in natural gas prices in April - by 58%.

The argument is the war in Ukraine.

In "The day begins" on BNT, the chairman of the association of district heating companies Kremen Georgiev commented on how this will affect district heating in our country.

"Until March 31, the companies are protected because there is some compensation for the high gas prices, but in April, as far as we understand, this will not happen," Georgiev explained.

EWRC responded to the requested increase in the price of natural gas by 58%

This will lead to even greater indebtedness of companies such as Toplofikacia Sofia, he stressed.

The transition period of the year, during which the heating is stopped, does not save things, because the energy for hot water supply is determined at the prices from July last year, which for 8-9 months have no connection with reality.

"In a sense, the solution is to continue the compensation. If all the additional costs that have landed on district heating prices have to be introduced at the moment, these prices will naturally go into space. I have been talking about a 50% increase for months. which is also not enough at the moment, "Kremen Georgiev said.

The price of gas in Europe has fallen

Of the 12 district heating companies in the country, eight are indebted and run on gas.

Asked whether a conversation was being held with the government, Georgiev said that the government was holding a monologue and said that no compensation was planned at the moment.

"Bulgargaz's 58% increase is the result of a contract with Gazprom. I don't know how the war in Ukraine is included in the formula, how it is expressed in numbers," Georgiev explained.

He explained that there are two more weeks until the EWRC approves the price, so there have been correct statements on their part that they present a picture of the current situation.

Bulgargaz wants 58% increase in natural gas prices

"Exact calculations cannot be made and must be adjusted on the move, because we see that since last year the prices of district heating are determined according to the regulations from forecast data, in previous years this happened quite accurately," said Kremen Georgiev.