We plan to announce the second call for single-family and multi-family renewable single-family building program funding in the fall. This was announced by the Acting Minister of Energy Vladimir Malinov at his hearing in the National Assembly, reports BTA.
He recalled that there was a serious delay in the evaluation of the 2001 projects received under the first invitation in the amount of BGN 80 million, announced already in the middle of 2023. After the completion of the evaluation, which was informed by the Ministry of Economy at the end of last week, 1544 approved projects will be financed under the program.
The procedure provides free financing for the supply and installation of solar installations for domestic hot water supply, as well as photovoltaic systems with a capacity of up to 10 kWp, which may also include systems for storing the produced electrical energy.
The total amount of the investment is BGN 240 million. Of this, BGN 140 million is at the expense of the Recovery and Sustainability Mechanism and BGN 100 million is national and private co-financing.
What does the withdrawal of "Bulgartransgaz" and ESO from BEH mean?
The removal of Bulgartransgaz and ESO from the structure of the Bulgarian Energy Holding (BEH) will not have a negative financial impact on the two state companies, but the risk to the financial stability of BEH is significant, warned Malinov.
The Acting Minister of Energy together with the Acting Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Lyudmila Petkova answered questions regarding the prepared proposals for amending the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRSP), as well as proposals on the content of the REPowerEU chapter and on the progress of the discussions in the European Commission On them.
"The biggest risk is with BEH's bond loans. The removal of "Bulgartransgaz" and ESO as key companies guaranteeing the funds raised with their assets means a renegotiation of the terms of the issued debt," explained Minister Malinov.
The structural reform in BEH is important for the EC, and from there they want the country to implement it. The proposed alternative measure with an equivalent effect by the Bulgarian government, namely a legislative ban on the possibility of cross-subsidization within BEH, was not accepted as such by the Commission.
Collaboration
"In order for Bulgaria to have a better negotiating position with the EC on renegotiation of reforms and investments in NPVU under Art. 21 of the Regulation and the inclusion of a new RePowerEU chapter, the executive and legislative authorities must work together," said Malinov.
Close cooperation between the authorities is required due to the necessary legislative initiative in the proposed changes with the proposal of alternative measures with equivalent effect regarding the decarbonisation objectives and structural reforms in BEH.
"We are pressed by the time frame, we need to work together in less than a month to prepare and defend a proposal that is supported by all levels of power in Bulgaria in order to have a better negotiating position," he said Minister Malinov.
He announced to the deputies that with the proposed reforms and investments, it is of key importance that they be implemented within the remaining 18 months. Therefore, it is planned to propose the proposed changes in specifics to the Council of Ministers by September 11, to be officially presented to the EC by September 13.