Caretaker Energy Minister: Gas supply situation is serious

Caretaker Prime Minister Galab Donev on August 3 announced at an emergency briefing at the Council of Ministers that he had set up an inter-agency crisis manaagment headquarters for the energy sector with the task to "propose solutions to tackle the chaos and destruction in the sector, to propose solutions for security of supply and predictability of natural gas prices, to propose mechanisms for control and reduction of fuel and electricity prices."

The headquarters will be headed by caretaker Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Policies Hristo Alexiev. It also includes Energy Minister, Rosen Hristov, representatives of other ministries, industry organisations, State Agency for National Security, Energy and Water Regulatory Commmission, as well as representatives of employers and trade unions.

Galab Donev will personally supervise the implementation of the assigned tasks. The staff will work without days off, including on weekends, the caretaker Prime Minister said.

"Bulgargaz” has continued to supply Russian gas, but through intermediaries, at higher prices.

No later than 12 August, the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission will announce its decision on the price of natural gas., the chairman of the energy regulator Ivan Ivanov announced at a briefing on Wednesday.

The caretaker energy minister said that in the short time, they have analysed a huge amount of information.

"I am sorry to say that the situation related to gas supply is serious, not to use the word 'critical'. Contrary to expectations, we have a shortage of contracted quantities until the end of the year. We have secured quantities until the end of September, but they are woefully inadequate to meet consumption until the end of the year.

The notorious 7 tankers contracted have not actually been contracted, and we are currently at offer level," caretaker minister Rossen Hristov said.

"Bulgargaz” has been supplying Russian blue fuel at inflated prices through intermediaries, Energy and Water Regulatory Commission Chairman Ivan Ivanov told BNT. He said he would request an urgent meeting with the energy minister today to resolve the natural gas problems. The head of the regulator proposes three options for getting out of the crisis.