site.btaEnergy Minister in Washington, DC: Bulgaria Ready to Be Factor for Energy Security, Driver of High-Tech Development in SE Europe

At the White House and in a series of meetings with US companies, Bulgarian Energy Minister Zhecho Stankov confirmed Bulgaria’s ambition to be a factor for energy security and a driver of high-tech development in Southeast Europe, the Energy Ministry said on Saturday. Stankov headed a Bulgarian delegation on a working visit to the USA from July 15 to 18. 

The meeting between the Bulgarian Energy Minister, David Copley, Special Advisor in the US President’s administration, and Jarrod Agen, Executive Director of the National Energy Dominance Council, focused on the key role of liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies for energy diversification and security in Southeast Europe.

“With strategic partnerships and projects, Bulgaria confirms its ambition to be a factor in the energy security of Southeast Europe,” Minister Stankov emphasized. He also briefed the hosts on progress in implementing the large-scale project to build new capacities at the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), highlighting that the two reactors will be the first in Europe to operate with Westinghouse’s AP1000 technology.

Existing administrative and regulatory challenges were discussed in the context of accelerated development of other significant energy projects. The Bulgarian side stressed the need for consistent support from the US, highlighting the role of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) as a crucial factor in securing stable and long-term financing for projects including the construction of Units 7 and 8 of the Kozloduy NPP.

The importance of critical minerals for energy independence was another topic of great significance for both countries, the Energy Ministry reported. Cooperation between the US and Bulgaria across the entire chain of exploration, extraction, processing, and recovery of rare earth and critical materials holds huge potential.

The Bulgarian delegation to the USA included 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.