Bulgaria will be the first EU country to implement a support scheme for energy-intensive industries, caretaker Energy Minister Traicho Traikov said on Friday at a briefing in the Council of Ministers, where a package of measures related to the consequences of the Middle East crisis was presented.
Traikov said the scheme has been notified to the European Commission and is in the final stage of approval. It is expected to be launched within two to three weeks. Under the measure, energy-intensive companies will be eligible for support of up to 50% of their electricity costs when prices exceed EUR 63 per megawatt-hour.
The scheme will apply retroactively from July 1, 2025, allowing companies to maintain more stable pricing for their goods and services and helping to contain inflation.
The Minister noted that electricity prices for household consumers are regulated, which is why the focus is on supporting businesses. A compensation scheme is currently in place at around EUR 122 per megawatt-hour, and steps are being taken to make it more responsive to current market conditions.
Under the revised approach, support will be provided whenever electricity prices on the free market exceed EUR 122 per megawatt-hour, rather than based on average prices over a six-month period.
Traikov said analyses show that electricity prices over the past year have not reached levels that would justify serious concern, describing the measures as largely preventive. He stressed that, unlike liquid fuels, which are fully imported, electricity is produced domestically.
According to estimates, the likelihood of significant spending under the scheme in 2026 is relatively low. A total of EUR 125 million has been allocated for energy-intensive industries for the period from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026, with funds available in the Energy System Security Fund.
/RY/