"South Stream" and the Project for construction of 7th Unit of NPP "Kozloduy" are strategic for our country
"Energy is a part of the national security and should be in Bulgarian citizens favour. Before taking up the post of the existing cabinet, Bulgarian energy was being prepared for privatization, but we have terminated a lot of contracts for consultancy services". That said the Minister of Economy and Energy Dragomir Stoynev in the studio of "Hello, Bulgaria" on Nova TV. According to Economy Minister, both the implementation of "South Stream" Project and the construction of 7th Unit of NPP "Kozloduy" are strategic for our country as they will ensure diversification.
In his words, "South Stream" is a European project and it did not contradict the Third Energy Liberalization Package. "The European Commission is not attacking us because of the liberalization package, but for actions that were carried out during the former government", he was explicit.Currently, our country has been considerably protected in the terms of the project. The execution of South Stream gas pipeline has been arrived to the “finish” only for a year." It will secure the natural gas supply and will directly effect on the country's economic growth and job creation", Minister Stoynev stressed. 87 Bulgarian companies will start activities under the project. Dragomir Stoynev stated that new tender procedures for signing new contracts under the project are not currently carried out.
"We started the important project for construction of 7th Unit of NPP "Kozloduy". It should be implemented in order to develop the nuclear energy in Bulgaria", said Stoynev. "We are in line with the European directives for diversification of nuclear fuel supply", he added. According to him, if a shareholder agreement is signed, it will not overburden the Bulgarian taxpayer.
Minister Stoynev defined as speculation claiming that deposits of state-owned companies have been withdrawn by Corporate Commercial Bank before the crisis there. "During the management of GERD, a huge financial recourse was concentrated in that bank. 75% of the funds has been withdrawn and allocated in other banks", he said.
"Although the Parliament out of work and the criticism, the Bulgarian economy embarked on economic growth for a year. Three consecutive quarters, the economy grew by more than 1%, and there no employers' organization that does not recognize that the economy bottoms out", stressed Stoynev. For the first quarter of 2014, 40,000 new jobs were opened. For 6 consecutive months, a growth in industrial production on an annual basis was achieved. "This government has listened to the businesses that required a better relationship between education and business, and launched duality training in Bulgaria", he added.