site.btaEnergy Minister: Maritsa Iztok Mines and TPP Maritsa Iztok 2 Separate from Bulgarian Energy Holding

The government has tasked Energy Minister Iva Petrova with preparing the necessary legislative amendments for the restructuring of the Bulgarian Energy Holding (BEH) in line with the commitments set out in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, Petrova said during a briefing at the Council of Ministers on Wednesday.

As agreed in 2025, the reform includes separating Maritsa Iztok Mines and TPP Maritsa Iztok 2 from the structure of the BEH. There has been a delay in this reform, and the failure to implement it in full has put at risk more than EUR 1 billion in funding under the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP), as well as funding under the territorial plans for a just transition, Petrova said.

The first part of the Council of Ministers' decision is to implement milestone 93 of the RRP, which envisages the establishment of a new state-owned enterprise that will be the sole owner of the internal subsidiaries currently owned by BEH. After an audit assessment is carried out, the assets will be transferred, Petkova said.

She emphasized that the reform of restructuring BEH is part of a larger and more comprehensive integrated concept concerning the Maritsa Iztok complex. The government's decision includes a commitment to prepare a business and financial plan for the new enterprise, an investment plan for implementing the integrated concept for the complex, and coordination of these documents with nationally representative trade unions, the State Agency for National Security, including dialogue with the National Assembly, the Energy Minister added.

Petkova informed that sectoral councils were held last week, during which the initial framework of the concept was set and the dialogue is proceeding accordingly. The participation of all stakeholders is extremely important, she added. This reform is not just about establishing a new company, but a step within a broader integrated concept for the Maritsa Iztok complex, which is extremely important for the country's energy and economic security, and competitiveness. This is a strategic issue that we must resolve, Petkova said.