Bulgaria’s caretaker PM: We will look for all opportunities for gas supplies, including countries not mentioned by the previous cabinet

The country is in a crisis situation and the crises are in almost every sphere of public life, caretaker Prime Minister Galab Donev told BNT programme "More from the Day" on August 5.

The claim which appeared in the public domain that a state of emergency will be introduced, is frivolous, he said.

Gas supplies

The problem of gas supply is very significant, the Prime Minister said. We will look at all secure options for gas supplies to Bulgaria, including via Greece and Turkey, and countries not mentioned in the previous Government's comments.

"We are open and we will secure Bulgaria's supplies from secure sources, at an affordable price, so that we do not do day-to-day tendering."

Donev said many things were not done by the previous government regarding the interconnector with Greece:

"What we have as an analysis and a report of public supplier “Bulgargaz” is that the gas supplies are secured until August. What is being said is that the interconnector with Greece will be ready by the end of August - we will do everything possible because it guarantees us the supply of Azeri gas. There are many things that need to be done that have not been completed in these seven months - we do not have Act 15 (ascertaining the condition of the construction and its readiness to be put into operation), let alone Act 16 (the authorisation for use). There is talk of repealing the decision on the supervisory board of the interconnector - this repeal is in connection with the fact that mistakes have been made in the names of the supervisory board. It is being revoked so that their names are spelt correctly'

We will look for possible sources for full diversification of gas in Bulgaria and to secure all the necessary amount of natural gas for the heating season, Galab Donev reiterated.

"From September to December 1/3 of the required amount of gas is not covered. Even these 7 tankers of LNG - for them we do not have secure access to the gas transmission network of Bulgaria."

The caretaker prime minister also said that the offer for the seven gas tankers did not specify with which trader the contract should be signed.

"With whom should we conclude a contract? There are two traders in this system - one holding the regasification terminal capacity and another trader. We are looking for direct contact with the gas producer, and the previous government bequeathed us a scheme where we have to negotiate with traders. At what price, then, are we going to supply that gas? That does not mean that we will not negotiate with suppliers; on the contrary, we will widen the circle and do it transparently. That is why we have said that we will also tender for the supply of liquefied gas."

It is also not true that the government will stop Bulgaria's path to the OECD - yesterday the Council of Ministers cancelled the point in question because there is no normative act behind it, said Donev.

The change of power

We are not going to cross out with a light hand policies that are successful, that lead to improving the quality of life and the condition of the people, the caretaker prime minister said.

"Unfortunately, what we are seeing does not speak well. We will try to have continuity where certain actions are really done. We have been in the CoM for three days - we are being blamed for things that were not done in seven months by the previous government."

The motives for replacing National Revenue Agency (NRA) chief, Rumen Spetsov, are extremely pure and clear, said Donev.

"It is a more special case in the NRA - it is quite well analyzed and can be seen from the results that the NRA shows for the revenue part in the budget in the first 6 months of the year, the analyses and forecasts - that they do not correspond to the real situation in the country."

The Prime Minister commented on the replacement of more than 30 deputy ministers:

"Cabinets leave office with their ministers - these are political cabinets and it is normal for ministers to enter with their deputies. They leave office along with the minister who was in that position. All new appointments are made on the basis of a thorough analysis of whether the relevant people have the necessary qualities."

Electricity prices for businesses

The caretaker government will try to find a solution to the problem of electricity compensation for businesses, as they are only set until the end of September. Only state-owned companies can apply for this compensation, Donev said.

"We need to make sure that all large energy consumers apply energy-saving instruments to further reduce electricity consumption. With the mechanism that has been adopted at the moment we say: 'consume as much as you want, we will pay you the difference from 250 BGN above'."

Social policy

The Social Policy Ministry has drawn up a plan and started collecting applications for energy assistance. The energy assistance has been increased by BGN 100 - it is now BGN 623.55. The circle of those eligible to receive it has been expanded - by about 50,000 people.

The other important point is a change in the poverty line - this month it will increase from BGN 413 to BGN 504, said Donev, who was also a former minister of social policy.

"This is a very shocking rise in the poverty line. It will lead to an increase in the social benefits and financial support for people with disabilities."

The caretaker prime minister said that the recalculation of pensions would take place in October, as was the decision of the 47th National Assembly, but commented that he personally disapproved of the changes adopted, including the July pension increase, because it was ill-conceived and violated the principles of social security.

"The problem that will come in October with the pension increase is that it will not be for everyone. The formula it is set on will take away vested rights of pensioners."

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