The energy sector is hot again. For years, there has been talk that there is a black hole of corruption in the sector. But we have already passed to the European level. “We became famous“ officially and among foreigners. In this way, the host of “Face to Face” - Tsvetanka Rizova, began her conversation with the former Minister of Energy Alexander Nikolov.
During the interview, he pointed out that in Bulgaria “corruption has gained so much power that it can crush any person“.
“In the public space, everything seems to be flowers and roses, but it is not“, Nikolov noted.
The “Chiren“ case: construction, inspection by the European Public Prosecutor's Office and its importance for Bulgaria's energy security
“The more the expansion of “Chiren“ is delayed, the worse it will be for Europe, much worse for us“, summarized the former Minister of Energy.
“In 2022 our gas supply was stopped and by coincidence and after many actions of some former managers in directly related gas companies, Bulgaria depended on Russian natural gas for over 92%. The more quantity it has stored somewhere, the more the national, and therefore energy security, improves. The more balanced the price is. It is cheaper for both the end consumer and the industry. The levels of Bulgaria's storage facilities are monitored by everyone in general, since our country is part of the common interconnected energy network. Damaging the Bulgarian market, the European one is also damaged“, explained Nikolov.
He refused to comment on the specific reasons for the delay in the expansion, because they are “in the realm of speculation“.
But he added: “The fact is, however, that in the last 20 years, everything that is in Bulgaria's favor has either been somehow strangely delayed or, in the more common case, – not implemented at all. Especially in the field of natural gas, since it is a resource that we receive from various sources and is not available in Bulgaria“.
The topic of why natural gas is not available in Bulgaria is interesting, the former Minister of Energy pointed out.
„In a few months, a fairly large natural gas field will come into operation, but again in Romania. When several companies were expelled from Bulgaria years ago. And the question was not whether we have it, but what is the amount of natural gas on the territory of Bulgaria“, he recalled.
„Since energy and power engineering are by definition “the circulatory system of the economy, therefore Bulgaria has the opportunity to be a very, very, very rich country“, Nikolov emphasized.
„We are not, because we like to sabotage ourselves. Because corruption, by definition, is not just corruption. Most people imagine that when something is stolen, the negative effect ends there. Corrupt practices lead to the generation of additional corruption, and then to enormous attention in all pillars of democracy and national security. Institutions, influential people, the way elections are held, the media can be bought. The scale of the "Energy" sector is so large that it allows influence almost everywhere. That is why the integrity and profile of the people who enter this sector is important, he emphasized.
About Vladimir Malinov - the head of "Bulgartransgaz", Nikolov said: "His work directly depends on the environment he is placed in and what are the tasks he has to complete, on who his boss is. He is by no means a stupid person. A single person should not be important against the background of the system".