Bulgarian Cabinet to Unveil Plans for Enegry Sector Reform

Bulgarian Minister of Economy and Energy Asen Vasilev is expected to reveal Tuesday the reform measures that the caretaker cabinet is to implement for Bulgaria's energy sector.

Alleged cartel agreements, local monopoly positions and lack of transparency in price formation resulting in high bills were among the key grievancies that led to massive street protests in February that toppled Bulgaria's previous cabinet, led by ex-PM Boyko Borisov.

The caretaker cabinet of current PM Marin Raykov has promised to review the energy sector and impose reforms to meet the interest of the public.

In particular, Energy Minister Vasilev and Infrastructure Minsiter Ekaterina Zaharieva had promised an international audit of Bulgaria's energy sector.

Tuesday Vasilev is expected to also reveal the progress made in the cration of a so-called public consultative body on energy.

A heated debate is being led in the past weeks regarding electric power price formation among cabinet ministers, state regulatory agencies and companies, and private power utilities.