Bulgaria becomes the 21st member state of the European Union (EU) to join the Eurozone.
"I don't understand why people are worried. We have practically been with the euro for more than 20 years. The fact that it is currently called the lev, we have had a fixed exchange rate since 1997. Nothing will change. I have observed it in several countries how it happens. It is nothing dramatic in terms of people's fears," commented energy expert Yavor Kuyumdzhiev on the show "Denyat ON AIR".
"Because if Bulgarian enterprises, electricity traders, electricity producers sell their electricity in countries where there is a euro, we are talking about amounts of hundreds of millions of euros or leva per year. Even the minimal commissions on exchange rates are very big losses for these companies. The same applies to the Bulgarian state, which trades the carbon emissions it receives in euros on international markets. With hundreds of millions, a lot of money is poured into banks instead of remaining in the companies," Kuyumdzhiev explained to Bulgaria ON AIR.
Minister of Energy Zhecho Stankov said that the seventh unit of the Kozloduy NPP will be operational by 2033 at the latest. The contract will be signed next year. Bulgaria will provide financing between 20-30% and we will be the first EU member state where the AP1000 technology will be operational. Kuyumdzhiev said that he is very pessimistic about these deadlines.
"The state poured 1.8 billion leva into the new company Kozloduy NPP - New Capacity, of which 700 million "Westinghouse" and "Hyundai" to develop a project in which it is still unclear how much it will cost," the energy expert said.
"The minister said it would cost 16 billion leva. Whatever you say today, you don't know what will happen in 10-15 years, when the project is completed," warned Kuyumdzhiev. Kuyumdzhiev said he was very pessimistic about these deadlines.
"The state poured 1.8 billion leva into the new company NPP "Kozloduy - New Power", of which it gave 700 million to "Westinghouse" and "Hyundai" to develop a project in which it is still unclear how much it will cost," said the energy expert.
"The minister said it would cost 16 billion leva. Whatever you say today, you don't know what will happen in 10-15 years, when the project is completed," warned Kuyumdzhiev. When asked if we should expect the fuel cartel to be proven, he replied that the average price of gasoline in our country is 1.18 euros, and the only country for comparison is Bosnia. According to him, fuels are 20-30% more expensive in all other European countries, excluding Russia and Belarus.