March 31 (Reuters) - Bulgaria will become the first European Union member state to introduce a dedicated support scheme for energy-intensive industries, as part of measures to offset the impact of the
Bulgaria Becomes First EU State to Launch Industry Energy Aid Programme
Overview of Bulgaria's Energy Aid Initiative
March 31 (Reuters) - Bulgaria will become the first European Union member state to introduce a dedicated support scheme for energy-intensive industries, as part of measures to offset the impact of the energy crisis triggered by the war in Iran.
Government Announcement and Timeline
Speaking at a government briefing on Friday, Energy Minister Traicho Traikov said the scheme, now in the final stage of European Commission approval, is expected to launch within two to three weeks.
Scheme Details and Eligibility
Under the plan, the government will reimburse 50% of additional electricity costs when market prices exceed 63 euros per megawatt hour, with the measure applied retroactively from July 1, 2025.
Household Tariffs and Market Stability
Traikov said regulated household electricity tariffs remain unchanged and that current price levels pose no immediate concern, describing the measures as precautionary and citing Bulgaria's largely domestic power production.
Funding and Financial Impact
The scheme is backed by 125 million euros ($143.36 million)from the Energy System Security Fund for the period July 2025 to June 2026. With electricity prices in the past year remaining relatively contained, authorities estimate limited spending under the new mechanism in 2026.
($1 = 0.8719 euros)
Reporting and Editorial Credits
(Reporting by Alex Lefkowitz; Writing by Antonis Pothitos; Editing by Bernadette Baum)
