"The economic situation in Bulgaria is improving - in the last quarter recorded a growth of 0.8 percent. For the first time there is an increase in industrial production of 4.1%. We expect next year to 1.8 percent economic growth", said the Minister of Economy and Energy Dragomir Stoynev. The latest assessment of the agency "Standard & Poor's" has confirmed the credit rating of Bulgaria. According to him the prospect of a decline in our country due to the domestic political situation and it is not a criticism of the economic and financial stability or to management.
"The launch of the gas pipeline South Stream on Bulgarian territory next year will ensure economic growth of over 2% and will create thousands of new jobs", said Stoynev. This project will ensure the diversification of sources and routes of natural gas, he added. The last wish of the European Commission to negotiate with the Russian side ensures community support for the project", said Minister Stoynev.
Our country needs to develop nuclear power to ensure the competitiveness of the economy in the coming years. Construction of a seventh unit at the Kozloduy NPP will replace the 5th and 6th block, going out of service. According to Dragomir Stoynev future nuclear power will give access of Bulgarian households and businesses over the next 80 years to the cheapest electricity - nuclear. He explained that over the next nine months Bulgarian Energy Holding will discuss with Westinghouse to determine the final price, the price of electricity produced in and the structuring of the project. "For us, diversification is the key to energy, because it means security" stressed Stoynev.
Asked about the state of the energy sector in the country Minister Stoynev assured that everything possible is done to be the system balanced and has no discontent among public employees. "At the moment the country is exported ten times more energy compared to May, miners work in four shifts , and in October there was a record-breaking coal in Maritsa Iztok, he recalled. Minister Stoynev added that the introduction of 20% tax for RES producers have to ensure the stability of the power system.