site.btaMachine Building Companies Push for Differentiated Energy Compensation

The flat energy compensation for businesses is not viable for the Bulgarian economy, said in an interview for BTA Iliya Keleshev, Chairman of the Bulgarian Machine Building Branch Chamber. According to him, the excess profits of public and private energy producers should be taxed and the issue of gas compensation should be resolved urgently.

Keleshev was approached to comment on the status quo of the industry days before the next MachTech&InnoTech international exhibition which will open at the Inter Expo Centre on September 13.

Keleshev recalled that in October and November industrial electricity consumers received 110 lv/MWh in compensation. "Some of the companies paid 120-125 lv/MWh of electricity (compared with a rate fixed by the regulator at 119 lv/MWh on July 1) under their contracts with electricity providers. In effect they don’t have any electricity costs.” He said he does not blame these companies, as they're in their right to take these compensations. Keleshev criticized the incumbents for handing out money piecemeal without even analysing the problem. 

He recalled that Bulgaria produces more electricity than that the national consumption and that its production has not become more expensive. Keleshev noted that without any additional costs private electricity producers and electricity traders are making excessive profits.

According to him, the situation with natural gas is even more complex and without any hopes for resolution.