Italy and Bulgaria explore possibilities to strengthen energy cooperation
Due to its geographical location, Bulgaria can be an energy hub, especially as regards the transmission of energy to Central and Eastern Europe. This was one of the conclusions drawn at the meeting between the Italian Ambassador to Bulgaria, H.E. Giuseppina Zarra and the team of the Ministry of Energy.
The Italian Ambassador informed about her country's ambitious plans for the production of green hydrogen. She stressed that Bulgaria and Italy have a very good partnership and added that bilateral co-operation could be further enhanced to a strategic level.
She also presented the guests from Confindustria Bulgaria-Mila Nenova and Roberto Santorelli, as well as Juan Jose Rodriguez Balesteros, a representative of an Italian-Spanish consortium that has an interest in exploring possible investments in Bulgaria as well, after the company has carried out successful projects in Italy, the UAE and Romania.
Deputy Minister Iva Petrova said that Bulgaria's biggest challenge is the transformation of coal regions, and our country sees hydrogen as an important technology to help this transformation. The first pilot project envisaged in this area is the capacity building of 55-megawatt electrolysers, part of the national Recovery and Resilience Plan. Bulgaria has already published the National Roadmap for Hydrogen Development and currently primary and secondary legislation is being examined to create an appropriate regulatory framework.
Confindustria Bulgaria representatives expressed their willingness to promote investment in our country, but they would like to know more about the Government's strategy.
Karina Angelieva, Head of Cabinet of the Minister of Energy, presented concisely the priorities of the Cabinet by stressing that in the field of energy, the most important and urgent task is the completion of the revised Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan.
Deputy Minister Nikolay Nikolov underlined that the incumbent Government has a clear strategy on Bulgaria’s future environment and expressed confidence that we will succeed in ensuring predictability, which is a vital condition for attracting investors.