The coal industry in Bulgaria is coming to an end, it is not a matter of political decision. Politicians probably don't lie by saying that the next few years will not close the coal plants, but the market will probably close them. They pay carbon emissions, the price of which is rising. It is over 90 euros per tonne, it is unlikely that in the coming years it will not exceed 100 euros per tonne. After 2026, there will be no possibility of state aid for the plants and they must close. This was predicted by Plamen Dimitrov from the Bulgarian Geopolitical Society in the studio of "ON AIR Day".

He recalled that the plants are operating at a loss and it is increasing. And as a problem for them he pointed out that they are bound by the Recovery and Resilience Plan. His expectations are that Bulgaria will have a catastrophic lag behind the EC.

"Now is the time for EC funds for this transition and the state will be completely eliminated to pay these costs that have to be incurred. The state cannot magically create jobs as there are miners, it is very likely that they will not be as well paid after the mines are closed, "predicted Plamen Dimitrov.

The guest called on the state for a specific strategy for individual regions. His forecasts are that the price of gas in winter will be lower than last heating season.

"There will be gas this winter. The problem is another of Bulgargaz - that they have committed to too large a volume of gas transportation capacities, and have not concluded contracts for this gas, which must be unloaded at LNG terminals in Turkey and Greece. We will have a surplus of nearly $1 billion. Annually, which has nowhere to be stored and must be realized in foreign markets, "said the guest.

According to him, the war in Ukraine will lead to "the final removal of Russia from the Bulgarian energy equation." His calculations show that the transition to non-Russian oil in the refinery in Burgas would take 5-6 months.

natural gas

Plamen Dimitrov