Siemens Vows to Swiftly Fix Glitches in Bulgarian ID Software

Bulgaria's introduction of new biometric personal identity documents has drawn huge lines, and crashed the overloaded electronic system. Photo by BGNES

The German company Siemens, manufacturer of the software and equipment for Bulgaria's new ID documents, had not received any money so far because the first payment is due 8 months after the system's launch.

The information was reported by Interior Minister, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, Wednesday, saying Siemens must submit a protocol for transferring the technology to the Interior. The Ministry will then have 2 months to state their findings and remarks about the work done by the company and ask for compensations for the glitches that created long lines in front of the Bulgarian passport offices since the end of March.

According to the contract, 7 000 passports must be issued daily instead of the current 3 000.

Tsvetanov reiterated earlier statements that the Interior is not at fault for the delays and had done everything possible to alleviate them by asking employees to work 24 hours a day.

The Minister further informed Siemens promised him all glitches will be fixed and the system will be able to issue 12 000 passports per day very soon.

"We are pressed now, but can have claims only for the contact's guarantee of EUR 1.2 M. And we can be payed that only after discussions and negotiations," Tsvetanov said.

The system was first introduced on March 29. On April 5, it also began processing express ID orders.

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