site.btaAssociation: National Energy Strategy Is a Step to Keeping 100,000 Jobs

Kremen Georgiev of the Association of Heating Utilities in Bulgaria, called for drafting a national energy strategy. According to him, this is an important step for the development of the Bulgarian energy and the keeping of 100,000 people, employed in the mines and thermal power facilities According to Georgiev, experts of all areas should be involved in drawing up the document, so that it will be sound technically, technologically and economically.

He cited an opinion of the Anti 40% Association, according to which the national energy strategy should span a 40-year period. Georgiev explained the long period by the need for serious investments, whose implementation requires a lot of time. "The National Energy Strategy should provide for measures which will attract young people to stay in their native place," said the expert.

He said that a plan for coal-fired facilities to operate seasonally is undoable. "This proposal is made by people who don't know what it is like to work in the mines and thermal power plants. Mining staff is highly qualified and cannot be employed seasonally. The same goes of heating utilities. A highly-skilled staff operates large facilities, which cannot discontinue work," said Georgiev.

He underscored that decision should be made together with experts from all areas and not in the dark to serve the interest of a small group.