Zhelyazkov: The Renovation Program Guarantees the Security of the Energy System

Caretaker Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov stated that the energy efficiency program guarantees the security of the energy system. In Veliko Tarnovo, he and the caretaker Minister of Energy, Zhecho Stankov, checked how the energy efficiency program is being implemented on several residential buildings.

Minister Stankov emphasized that in preparing the program for the energy efficiency of single-family residential buildings, the government relies heavily on local authorities. It is foreseen that municipalities will be leading, they will collect the documents and assist people in the regions, so that the documents can be prepared as accurately as possible and administrative burden is reduced.

Every year, since these blocks have been renovated, 140 million leva are being saved for Bulgarian households, and for these five years – 350 million euros have remained in the pockets of Bulgarian households from the savings on electricity. Over one billion leva have been allocated for the renovation of buildings under the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) for 750 buildings and the program continues, Stankov said and emphasized that by 2029, funds are allocated in the Bulgarian Development Bank so that there are no buildings waiting in reserve under the energy efficiency program.

For all Bulgarian citizens who wish to live in renovated homes with savings of between 40 and 60 percent on electricity, in a better urban environment, with the extension of the life of the building – this is the right approach, he added.

Weeks ago, a Decarbonization Fund was created in the Ministry of Energy, which will have nearly 100 million leva, through which Bulgarian households will be able to apply for energy efficiency of single-family buildings, for the replacement of windows and doors and the installation of photovoltaic panels on the roof, the minister recalled.

The investment allocated for the Municipality of Veliko Tarnovo is nearly 50 million leva and is free of charge, added Mayor Daniel Panov and pointed out that about 17 residential blocks are to be renovated in different neighborhoods. 

"In the National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria, for four years, the main topic that was discussed was that the Energy Efficiency Program should be restored, because you know that it did not function for four years", commented the mayor of Veliko Tarnovo Daniel Panov, who is the chairman of the NAMRB. He emphasized the important role of the decarbonization fund, as in Veliko Tarnovo about 50 percent of the dwellings are single-family, a large part of them – monuments of culture, which will improve the architectural and historical environment.

Caretaker Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov commented that with the right policy for energy efficiency of buildings, on the one hand, electricity bills are reduced, and on the other hand, the security of the electricity system is guaranteed. This is important because electricity is a key element in the competitiveness of every country. The Bulgarian energy market must not only be efficient, but also provide opportunities for the development of the Bulgarian economy and the way to guarantee the security of the energy system, he added. The right approach is for this process to be close to the people with the assistance of the municipalities. We are leaving a significant resource both through the fund and through the Bulgarian Development Bank, Zhelyazkov summarized.