Natural resources

Prices per liter of fuel jumped again, and at the main and largest gas stations, they vary. For a liter of A95 petrol, drivers pay between BGN 3.32 and BGN 3.43, respectively, and for a liter of regular diesel, the amount ranges from BGN 3.43 to BGN 3.58.

Ljubljana – The prices of regular petrol and diesel at pumps outside motorways will rise by nearly 20 cents a litre on Tuesday. Regular petrol will cost EUR 1.755 a litre, up from EUR 1.56, while diesel will cost EUR 1.848 a litre, compared to EUR 1.668 at the moment. The new prices will remain in place until 4 July when they are adjusted again.

Ljubljana – Prime Minister Rober Golob said on Monday he found it scandalous that several petrol stations around the country ran out of fuel on Sunday and today as drivers rushed to service stations in anticipation of Tuesday’s price hike stemming from a new pricing model kicking in.

Germany's race to wean itself off Russian energy and stockpile enough gas before winter is playing out largely hidden from view, some 1,600 meters below ground in the foothills of the Bavarian Alps.    

The former Bierwang natural gas field in Unterreit serves as one of Germany's largest underground gas storage facilities.  

Ljubljana – The new infrastructure minister, Bojan Kumer, announced on Thursday that he and Economy Minister Matjaž Han would appoint a task force on Monday to deal with energy price hikes. “The energy price hikes need to be addressed immediately,” Kumer said as he took over from his predecessor Jernej Vrtovec, adding that the new task force would be in charge of that.

Authorities have announced hikes in electricity and natural gas prices for households as well as industrial users.

The Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EPDK) said in a statement that electricity prices for households and industry were increased by 15 percent and 25 percent, respectively.

The new tariffs took effect as of June 1.

"Purely technologically, Bulgaria can do without Russian oil, but this would significantly increase the cost of fuel. Therefore, if the European Commission allows exemptions [from the oil embargo], we will exercise our right to request such an exemption as well."

This was stated by Finance Minister Asen Vassilev in an interview with the weekly "Capital".

Ljubljana – The government has decided not the extend the cap on the price of regular petrol and diesel introduced in March, saying on Friday that the petroleum products market had stabilised. This means the price, both retail and wholesale, will be freely formed on the market again as of 1 May.

The energy link takes on greater importance following Moscow’s decision this week to cut off natural gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria

About 100 buses and 300 trucks took part in the protest of the carriers against the high fuel prices and the introduction of new tariffs for the toll system. They were positioned in front of the Council of Ministers, parliament and from BNB to Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.

Georgi Tsanov from the Control Council of the Union of International Carriers pointed out: