Bulgaria less dependent on energy imports than EU – minister
Bulgaria’s Economy and Energy Minister Petar Dimitrov dismissed on February 27 the criticism that the country was more dependent on imported energy raw materials than the European Union.
Talking to an energy forum organized in Sofia by Kapital weekly, Dimitrov said that Bulgaria imported only 47.7 per cent of its energy resources, compared with 51.1 per cent in the EU.
Secure energy supplies were a cornerstone of the energy strategy, now being drafted by a ministry working group, which would replace the current one, adopted in 2001. Other pillars of the blueprint are sustainability and competitiveness of energy supplies, diversification of energy resources, measures related to mitigate impact on environment. All goals were in line with objectives put up forth the EU, Dimitrov said.
Energy stability is a precondition for political and military security, better quality of life and overall stability. Should Bulgaria become one giant disco because of sporadic power blackouts, civil unrest would follow swiftly, undermining political stability, Dimitrov said in his address to the forum, dubbed Energy Streams in Regional and European Terms.
Bulgaria’s new energy strategy should focus on upgrading existing and building new energy generation facilities to ensure the energy balance of the country, Dimitrov said, with self-sustainability as the topmost priority.
Although Bulgaria had a lot of excess capacity, particularly from thermal power plants, these had to be mothballed because their high level of greenhouse emissions. With stricter restrictions coming into force in 2012, that would become an even more important issue, and to counter the adverse effects, Bulgaria was considering the possibility of building power plants on the Danube, three in total of about 400-450 MW installed capacity each.
Participants in the forum’s panels also stressed the need to build an energy exchange, continue liberalisation of the market and acquiesce to the need to raise electricity prices.
Lubos Pavlas, CEZ regional manager for Bulgaria, said that electric power producers had to sell power at a price lower than its cost of production, an untenable situation. To solve the issue, Bulgaria should urgently deregulate its market, where 85 per cent of all electricity market sold at regulated prices.
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Monday, October 13 2008
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What`s on in Bulgaria
Theatre
12 Angry Monologues/12 razgneveni monologa What: The play is a compilation of 12 of the best monologues from Bulgarian actor Velko Kunev on the National Theatre stage over the past 30 years. Alone on the stage, Kunev re-experiences the fates, thoughts, worries and fears of his characters - including Ham When: October 7 and 25, 7pm Where: Ivan Vazov National Theatre
Volpone What: This comedy, written by English Renaissance playwright Ben Jonson, tells the story of Venetian nobleman Volpone who pretends he’s at death’s door to lure the numerous aspirants to his large inheritance and thereby expose their greed and foolishness. Starr When: October 10, 22 and 28 at 7pm Where: Ivan Vazov National Theatre
The Taming of the Shrew/Oukrotyavane na opurnichavata What: Director Marious Kourkinski returns to the stage of the Satirical Theatre with this Shakespearean comedy, which was one of the master’s earlier plays. The original play depicts a nobleman, Petruccio, who, for pragmatic reasons, marries a shrew – a loud-mo When: October 10 at 7pm Where: Aleko Konstantinov Satirical Theatre
Cultural Institutes
Pavel Besta and his inspirations What: This exhibition by Czech artist Pavel Besta coincides with his 50th birthday. His paintings are in the realm of the grey and sorrowful. Besta discusses universal questions touching on the beating hearts and disillusioned faces who dwell in the country’s o When: Until October 31 Where: the Czech cultural centre, 100 G. S. Rakovski Str, Sofia
Art
Painters from Plovdiv exhibit in Sofia What: Natally gallery is organising a general exhibition featuring artists who have depicted Plovdiv’s gentle pace of life in their works. Visitors can admire the delicately smiling characters looking over from Angel Vassilev’s paintings, or the colourful abstr When: Until October 30 Where: Natally, 38A Gourko Str, Sofia
The return of Dimitar Voinov What: Racoursi gallery presents Bulgarian painter Dimitar Voinov, who has lived and worked in Germany since 1986. Now, 22 years later, he is exhibiting in Bulgaria for the first time. His paintings reveal the use of classic techniques, combined with ambiguous s When: Until October 31 Where: Racoursi, 4A Han Kroum Str, Sofia
Eva Peneva and Yulian Yordanov’s graphics for four hands What: This collaboration between two artists is a long-nurtured idea that finally comes to life. Yordanov presents 13 of his graphics including titles like Leda, Fragrance or Temptation. To find an adequate answer to his challenge, Peneva painted glass using va When: Until October 20 Where: Teo, 34 Macedonia Str, Varna
Soshana: Around the world in 80 years What: Austrian painter Susanne Schuller-Soshana is a true cosmopolitan. As one art critic puts it, she has travelled the world not in 80 days, but in 80 years. During her nomadic life, she has met some of the defining titans of the last century’s art scene – in When: Until October 16 Where: Astri, 34 Tsar Samouil Str, Sofia
The apple in the minds of several artists What: Though it has a small exhibition area, this gallery always offers carefully selected artists the chance to flaunt their talents. In this general exhibition nine artists have come together to explore the ‘apple theme.’ Works by Boiko Kolev, Rossen Rashev, When: Until October 20 Where: Art Gallery Paris, 8 Paris Str, Sofia
LIKE MOTHER, LIKE DAUGHTER – ANI KARALAMBEVA AND NIYA ABRASHEVA What: Drawing on her experience and expertise as a long-time textile designer, Ani Karalambeva collaborates with her daughter Niya Abrasheva to create beauty in the ever-saturated world of fashion and interior design. The exhibition presents mixed media wall pa When: Until October 8 Where: Azza Gallery of Modern Art, 25 Cherni Vruh Blvd, Sofia
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EC: Bulgaria's budgetary stance is sound.. 
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