the AES

US-based companies AES and ContourGlobal, which own two of Bulgaria's largest thermal-power plants, have submitted declarations that they are leaving one of the key employers' organizations in the country.

Both were, until now, members of the Confederation of Employers and Industrialists in Bulgaria, or CEIBG (also increasingly known as KRIB).

The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) is likely to become the single company to make a binding offer th the Bulgarian Energy Holding (BEH) as the energy structure is looking for a loan of EUR 650 M to pay off debts.

The Bulgarian Energy Holding (BEH) has launched a procedure to pick a lender that would help it pay off part of its debts.

BEH, a structure managing state-owned assets in the energy sector, is now committed to make the payments under a deal with the AES and ContourGlobal thermal power plants which was reached in the spring.

The Bulgarian Energy Holding (BEH) is now considering options to pay off debts to the AES and ContourGlobal thermal power plants, Bulgarian Energy Minister Temenuzhka Petkova has said.

Speaking to reporters, she added the BEH would launch a procedure to secure funding by the end of text week.