Bulgaria Energy Minister Orders Cheaper Heating in Sofia

At the beginning of 2009 there was a 19% increase in the prices offered by the Sofia heating utility Toplofikatsiya. Photo by BGNES

The central heating price in Bulgaria's capital Sofia for the first quarter of 2009 will remain unchanged from December 2008 rates at the order of the energy minister.

At the beginning of 2009 there was a 19% increase in the prices offered by the Sofia heating utility Toplofikatsiya. Toplofikatsia's customers will be compensated by their heating bills in February and March.

The Toplofikatsiya issues are of a great social and government interest after the bankruptcy of the heating utility in 2006. Valentin Dimitrov AKA "Toploto" (The Warm), a former CEO of Toplofikatsiya, was accused of money laundering and embezzlement. He was arrested after Toplofikatsiya was found in tatters and had to file for bankruptcy.

Dimitrov together with Ilko Yotsev, Ivanka Dilovska, Georgi Rogachev, Georgi Nenkov, and Plamen Vasilev caused losses to the company amounting to about BGN 2 M in the period 2003-2006 by buying luxury goods and spending company money on holidays. Dimitrov even installed a Jacuzzi in his office despite the troubled financial condition of the state owned company.

 

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