site.btaBulgarian Delegation to US Led by Energy Minister Meet with Members of House of Representatives

The Bulgarian delegation to USA led by Energy Minister Zhecho Stankov discussed deepening cooperation in energy and high technologies with members of the US House of Representatives in Washington, D.C., the Ministry of Energy said in a press release on Thursday.

Bulgaria's geostrategic role as a balancing power and transit energy hub in the South-North and East-West directions was the focus of the Bulgarian Energy Minister's talks with House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast. The potential of the energy sector to strengthen bilateral relations was also discussed, given the importance of specific investment projects.

The talks with Energy and Water Development Subcommittee Chairman Chuck Fleischmann focused on opportunities to expand existing strong cooperation in nuclear energy and natural gas.

In a conversation with Congressman Brad Schneider, member of the Foreign Affairs and the Ways and Means Committees, Minister Stankov discussed promotion of US investment in areas such as nuclear energy, data centers, and high-tech infrastructure.

The Bulgarian delegation also held an informal discussion with representatives of the US administration, industry partners, and diplomats on the topic of critical minerals and rare earth supply chains - a strategic resource for green transformation and innovation industry.

Minister Stankov's working visit is an expression of the Bulgarian commitment to building sustainable partnerships, strengthening trust and expanding cooperation with the United States as a long-term strategic ally of Bulgaria, the Energy Ministry said. The Bulgarian delegation, which is on a working visit to the US from July 15 to 18, includes Delyan Dobrev, Chair of the parliamentary Budget Committee; Stanislav Anastasov, member of the parliamentary Energy Committee; Petyo Ivanov, Executive Director of Kozloduy NPP - New Builds; Angelin Tsachev, Executive Director of the Electricity System Operator; and Vasil Stoynov, Chairman and member of the Board of Directors of the Bulgarian Energy Holding. 

On Wednesday, a partnership between Kozloduy NPP - New Builds EAD and the US bank Citi was formed to secure financing for the construction of new nuclear capacities at the site of Bulgaria’s nuclear power plant.