Until mid-2018, Bulgaria will have a new energy strategy for the period up to 2030 with horizon until 2050, the energy minister Temenuzhka Petkova announced during an interview for the Bulgarian National TV. Also, within days, the tender for the economic feasibility study of gas hub “Balkan” is expected to be announced, added Petkova, as quoted by publics.bg.

Initially, the tender was expected to happen in mid-July. Petkova reminded about the confirmed support of the European Commission for this project, announced several days ago.

The energy minister also announced that another key project – the Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria (ICGB) – will have a construction tender announced in the end of September or the beginning of October. The construction is expected to start in the first half of 2018.

The privatization procedure for the NPP Belene project will start until the end of 2017. Talks are being held with potential investors and there is interest for this project, Petkova added. However, if there is no official interest for NPP Belene, Bulgaria will go on with the construction of a 7th unit at NPP Kozloduy.

Petkova also commented the process of full liberalization of the electricity market in Bulgaria, and estimated that this process will take 3 to 5 years.