Dobrev

Bulgarian Energy Minister Temenuzhka Petkova has denied Delyan Dobrev, who served under GERB's first government, committed any wrongdoing in relation to the Belene nuclear power plant (NPP).

Bulgaria's Chief Prosecutor Sotir Tsatsarov demanded that Dobrev's immunity be lifted amid a probe into Belene NPP.

The Prosecutor General has submitted to Parliament a request for the withdrawal of the immunity of GERB deputy Delyan Dobrev, reported the press centre of the Prosecutor's Office.

The request is based on evidence collected by the Sofia's Prosecutor's Office regarding the  crime of premeditated abeyance in Delyan Dobrev's capacity as Minister of Economy, Energy and Tourism.

Petar Dimitrov, a former Bulgarian Minister of Economy and Energy, has been indicted over the sale of old equipment made for the ditched Belene plant to the Russian company involved in the project.

Parliamentary deputies from GERB, the Patriotic Front, the Reformist Bloc (RB) and BDTS-Naroden Sayuz have submitted a proposal for the establishment of a temporary survey commission for the Belene nuclear power plant, announced Antoni Trenchev from RB.

The Chairman of the Energy Commission in Parliament Delyan Dobrev does not expect any problems to arise concerning the necessary approval of the European Commission for the granting of state aid to the National Electric Company (NEC)

Bulgaria is preparing to grant an interest-free loan to NEC. NEC will use it to pay Atomstroyexport for the equipment ordered for the Belene plant.

Natural gas exploration drills in Bulgaria's Khan Asparuh block in the Black Sea are expected to begin in April.

This was stated by the chairperson of the parliamentary energy committee Delyan Dobrev on Tuesday, Darik radio quotes him as saying.

Representatives of the business sector will take part in the work of the company boards of all state-owned energy firms, according to a decision adopted at a meeting between Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, Energy Minister Temenuzhka Petkova, Delyan Dobrev, Chair of the parliamentary energy committee, and employers' associations.

One more company has expressed an interested in the gas and oil exploration opportunity now opening along the Bulgarian Black Sea coast.

After Exxon Mobil stated that it will be very much interested in the tenders in Teres and Silistar Tuesday, now Anadarko has joined the club of possible investors.

Exploration Manager Europe and Caspian at ExxonMobil, Stacey Weltmer has stated that the company is very much interested in winning a tender for oil and shale gas exploration mission in Bulgaria.

Delyan Dobrev, head of the parliamentary energy committee, will present Monday in Houston opportunities for oil and gas drilling in Bulgaria's Black Sea exploration blocks to leading US and international companies.