Temenuzhka Petkova

Bulgarian Vidin-based car tyre maker Vidachim has downsized the scale of planned staff cuts from 314 to 150.

The new plans were announced on Monday after a meeting of Energy Minister Temenuzhka Petkova with workers and senior executives of the plant.

No operations related to the South Stream gas pipeline are ongoing in Bulgaria, the country's Energy Minister Temenuzhka Petkova has said.

While in Parliament on Thursday, Petkova used the rostrum to fend off speculation that activities are still being carried out.

The deficit at Bulgaria's National Electric Company (NEK) stands at BGN 3.3 B, while the current deficit for 2014 amounts to BGN 600 M, according to Energy Minister Temenuzhka Petkova.

Petkova visited Sunday the Maritsa Iztok Mines (Mini Maritsa Iztok EAD), Bulgaria's largest coal mining company.

Bulgaria's energy sector is in a state of financial collapse and in need of urgent and adequate measures, according to Minister Temenuzhka Petkova.

Petkova warned in a Sunday interview for the Bulgarian National Radio that rescuing the energy sector, and therefore the entire economy, could require unpopular steps.

US-based ContourGlobal said on Friday any change in its long-term contract for electricity sales from its Bulgarian power plant Maritsa East 3 should safeguard the investments it has made.

Bulgarian Energy Minister Temenuzhka Petkova announced that the long-term contracts between the National Electricity Company (NEK) and the two thermal power plants AES Maritza East 1 and ContourGlobal Maritsa East 3 will be renegotiated.

Petkova stated this during a conference at which she presented account of her first 100 days in office, Focus news agency reports.

SOFIA - Bulgaria and Greece have agreed to take a final investment decision by the end of May to pave the way for a gas pipeline aimed at reducing Sofia's dependence on Russian gas, Bulgaria's energy minister said on Thursday.

Bulgarian Energy Minister Temenuzhka Petkova said on Thursday that the planned gas interconnection grid with Greece is expected to become fully operational by 2018.

Petkova announced this following a bilateral meeting with her Greek counterpart Panagiotis Lafazanis, daily Dnevnik reports.

Bulgaria's Energy Minister Temenuzhka Petkova will take part in the first meeting of the Consultative Council on the Southern Gas Corridor project.

The meeting will take place on February 12 in Baku, Azerbaijan, according to the press office of Bulgaria's Energy Ministry.

High-level negotiations on the possibility of building a gas hub in Bulgaria will be held on Monday, part of a initiative organized by Bulgarian PM Boiko Borisov. EU Commission Vice-President Maro? ?ef?ovi?, and European Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy Miguel Arias Cañete are expected to take part in the discussions to be held in Boyana.