International Energy Conference
Clean Energy Package and Energy Investments – Realities and Challenges
(4-5 april 2019, Stara Zagora)

Moderator’s Conclusions

1. The Conference was organized by the Energy Management Institute(www.emi-bg.com)with the support of EURELECTRIC (www.eurelectric.org ). Conference Programme is attached.
2. Over 140 participants and 20 national/regional media were registered to attend the Conferencewhich attested to the importanceof Conference topics. The event was honoured by Zhecho Stankov, Deputy-Minister of Energy, Ognyan Zlatev, Head of EC Representation in Sofia, Kristian Ruby, Secretary General of EURELECTRIC, Brian Ricketts, Secretary General of EUROCOAL, ambassadors, diplomats, representatives of international organizations, non-governmental organizations, academia, state and private businesses, trade unions, as well as by energy experts and students.
3. The principal conclusion of the event is that, in practical terms, the Clean Energy for All Europeans package, being one of core foci of European energy policy in all its diversity, will have a huge impact on coal mining future.

In the context of Bulgaria, the unclarities surrounding coal mining future are not only substantial, but also an apparent prerequisite to tension escalation because of questions accumulated that still remain without a definitive answer. These questions bear relevance to the energy sector mainly, though are of a more fundamental nature that goes far beyond the energy sector scope.

In this regard, it is the State through its institutions that remains in debt to society since it fails to provide the relevant answers.

4. Against this background, Conference participants expressed appreciation of the frank discussion held, though rather emotional at times. With his concrete, professional and objective introductory statement, Zhecho Stankov, Deputy-Minister of Energy, set the discussion format.Both his statement and responses to questions raised, prompted the audience to share words of gratitude to Temenuzhka Petkova, Minister of Energy,and her team, for taking a principle-base, dialogic and proactive approach to stakeholders.  
5. Participants expressed regrets that representatives of other ministries and departments with competence bearing direct relevance to Conference topics were missing. For that reason, numerous questions touching upon the national policy as a whole and having strategic, economic, legal, environmental, technological and social dimensions, remained unanswered. As pointed out, the fundamental issue of securing a fair energy transition was not a sole responsibility of the Minister of Energy but required assessment in all its diversity.
6. As consistently reiterated in the course of the discussions, the State held a leading role in resolving coal mining open issues in Bulgaria. This role entailed also a new reading of the approach to the clean energy topic and the practical challenges to clean energy generation and use.
7. It was emphasized that a long-term forecast on generation capacity adequacy and an economic viability analysis needed to be drawn up. Such an analysis would be decisive in elaborating a capacity mechanism for security of supply that would contribute to guaranteeing power supply from local resources, in line with the draft of the 2030 Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan.
8. A fundamental aspect discussed was the urgency of explaining in plain words the current and impending actions targeting sector development and future at a strategic level. This would require accounting for the huge investments already made to improve coal mining and coal-fired power generation.

Unfortunately, the generally shared public view was that termination of coal mining would be imminent, virtually in the coming days. An indication of the raising concerns was the demonstration organized by mining workers in front of the Conference venue and the slogans put forward: ‘Do you want to see 100 000 people аt Terminal 2?’, ‘Don’t kill South Bulgaria’, ‘We want jobs’. It could not be made more obvious that all steps undertaken at State level had not been made clear to the people involved.

9. The discussion outlined also the importance of properly conveying to the public the reasons behind reforms initiated.

It was underlined that a general reference to EU requirements was unacceptable. The public was quite aware that, as part of the European Union, Bulgaria had at its disposal the tools to influence EU decision-making process on energy policy formulation and legislation drafting, instead of being a passive user once adopted.

10. Furthermore, there was a growing expectation for the country to be actively involved in all mechanisms available at EU level, backed by the relevant funds to ensure a smooth implementation of sectorial reforms. For instance, as expressed in a statement, it was incomprehensible why Bulgaria was not represented and had no active stance in the EC platform on coal regions in transition(https://ec.europa.eu/energy/en/topics/oil-gas-and-coal/coal-regions-in-transition).In this vein, some Conference participants (NGOs, etc.) offered assistance to the relevant State institutions.
11. Enhancing public administration capacity was also pointed out, i.e. availability of a competent and active government administration capable of protecting national interests in close and professionally coordinated cooperation with stakeholders.
12. Irrespective of audience professional diversity, all participants jointed around the notion that different energy sources should not be placed into a position of opposing each other without having well-substantiated arguments, i.e. neither nuclear, nor natural gas, nor RES should be opposed to coal, and vice versa. The public should also be advised adequately on this while accounting for the diverse and relatively balanced energy mix in Bulgaria.
13. As it was reiterated, active discussions on the topic had to continue. State institutions were expected to support the dialogue further and respond to anticipations of timely and objectively substantiated steps based on a clear strategic and regulatory framework. This process should account for Bulgaria’s commitments to both international and European norms. It should also entail an adequate presentation of national specifics at European and international level in view of the economic and social implications arising from reforms implementation.

Drafted by

Slavtcho Neykov

Chair of Management Board

Energy Management Institute