Minister of Energy Zhecho Stankov took part in the official opening of the “Longship“ – the first of its kind in Europe integrated infrastructure for carbon capture, transport and storage (CCUS). The event was held in Oslo, Kingdom of Norway, and marked an important milestone in the real implementation of climate neutrality technologies
“The discussion that lasted almost a decade on how we can capture and store carbon dioxide has finally come to life – and I thank you for making it possible“. This was stated by Minister Stankov during the opening session.
He participated as a panelist in the discussion “Europe towards zero emissions“, together with the Energy Ministers of Norway Terje Ausland, Switzerland Albert Rösti, Belgium Mathieu Bie, as well as the Director General for Climate Policy and Sustainable Growth of the Netherlands Esther Paes.
In front of the participants in the event, Minister Stankov emphasized that Bulgaria is a country with one of the most carbon-intensive energy systems in Europe. Therefore, carbon capture and storage is not just a technological choice, but a vital opportunity to protect industry and jobs in the country. “We want to guarantee and preserve production activities on our territory – and CCUS is one of the ways to make this happen”, he pointed out. According to him, this technology is not only a tool for achieving climate goals, but also a symbol of transformation – „a bridge between industrial heritage and green leadership“.
In his speech, Stankov emphasized that Bulgaria is pursuing a comprehensive energy transition policy, based on both innovation and social responsibility. Our country has created a stable legal and strategic framework that provides long-term predictability for business. Part of this policy is the provision of funds for enterprises that invest in building their own electricity generation capacities – an important step towards the energy independence of the industry and competitiveness.
The minister also emphasized Bulgaria's ambition to become an energy balancer in the Balkan region. „We are working to build large-scale energy storage batteries, as well as to modernize and expand our hydropower potential through new projects for combined cycle power plants“, he added. According to him, these facilities will play a key role in ensuring the flexibility and security of the electricity system and for this purpose the government is looking for strategic investors.
Along with the industrial efforts, the minister highlighted the government's consistent policy regarding energy efficiency. Hundreds of thousands of Bulgarian households have already benefited from state building renovation programs, in which energy renovation is fully financed with public funds. “This is how Bulgaria combines climate responsibility with an active fight against energy poverty“, he emphasized.
In conclusion, Minister Stankov stated that the Bulgarian energy transition is not only a national priority, but also part of the common effort for regional and European transformation. Cooperation with neighbors, the development of green energy corridors and shared investments will be the foundation on which a more sustainable, innovative and socially just energy future is built.