Green Transition 2023
Hristo Kovachki at the „Green Week 2023” Forum: Bulgaria needs a comprehensive national energy strategy
Green Transition 2023
Energy entrepreneur Hristo Kovachki was among the participants at the opening of the major international forum “Green Week 2023”, dedicated to the green transition in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. The event was organized by Dir.bg and 3e-news.
Kovachki took part as a leading expert on sustainable transformation in a roundtable discussion titled “Bulgaria’s New Energy Strategy.” The discussion brought together voices from the public and private energy sectors, academia, and non-governmental organizations to share their perspectives.
In their statements, both Hristo Kovachki and Nikola Delev, Chairman of Bulgartransgaz, agreed that the European Union’s ambitions for a green transition set an extremely high bar. They emphasized that the proposed changes must be swiftly translated into tangible action within Bulgaria’s energy sector. Kovachki stressed that by 2030, significant efforts and investments will be required to reduce harmful emissions from energy production.
“This does not mean, however, that coal-fired power plants should be shut down,” Hristo Kovachki noted. “There are several alternative fuels that can be used to replace coal. He pointed out that, according to official data, Bulgaria generates 10 million tons of biowaste annually. In his view, this biowaste is one of the sustainable fuels that could be used as a replacement for coal in power plants.
“Natural gas is undoubtedly the fuel of the energy transition, and we must use it as efficiently as possible”, Kovachki concluded.
He also emphasized that Bulgaria has yet to develop and adopt a national energy strategy, highlighting this as a crucial step toward implementing the energy transition in the most effective way.
“Time is of the essence, and drafting an energy strategy must not be delayed. But we need to approach it wisely – without shutting down existing power plants. It is unacceptable for the state to take no action to support private energy companies in moving in the right direction”, Kovachki said.
During the discussion, Alexander Zagorov, Secretary of Podkrepa Labour Confederation Trade Union, stated that the fierce attacks on the coal industry were hindering the unions from engaging meaningfully in the energy strategy. According to him, a well-developed strategy would resolve these issues and foster mutual understanding between business and labour unions.
“All of you in this room are experts,” Zagorov said, addressing the roundtable participants, “but you are weighed down by the heavy armors of business, making you inflexible. If you take off your business suits, you could have a solid energy strategy drafted by midnight!”
In conclusion, energy professor Hristo Vasilev summed up the discussion:
“Capable people from various sectors must come together to lead Bulgaria’s energy sector towards decarbonization with minimal social impact on society”.
The roundtable “Bulgaria’s New Energy Strategy” also included representatives from the Electricity System Operator, the Bulgarian Federation of Industrial Energy Consumers, the Bulgarian Oil and Gas Association, Solar Academy Bulgaria, numerous energy experts, and other stakeholders from the business and non-governmental sectors.
Source: greentransition.bg