Balgarianovinite.com The 17th Green and Energy Forum in Sofia, organized by the Manager Magazine, was held at the Inter Expo Centre on Tuesday.
The world is facing its biggest energy crisis due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, experts agreed during the event.
Julian Popov, who was minister of environment and water in the Andrey Gurov caretaker cabinet, said that Bulgaria needs to speed up wind power development and add 6 to 7 GW of wind capacity. Popov said several wind power projects in Bulgaria are blocked over what he called “unfounded claims” about the impact of wind turbines on nature, particularly birds. He said Bulgaria would retain its central role in the regional energy market if it builds new wind capacity. Otherwise, capacity will be developed mainly in Greece and Romania, and Bulgaria risks becoming an electricity importer.
Deputy Prime Minister Atanas Pekanov said that Bulgaria will seek a more active policy at the European level in the energy sector, the main priorities being industrial competitiveness and energy security. Pekanov reported that projects under the Recovery and Resilience Plan are already implemented in renewable energy, energy storage, and energy system modernization. The Deputy PM noted that Bulgaria will insist that similar investments be included in the EU’s next multiannual financial framework, particularly regarding the modernization of the power transmission grid.
Preslav Raikov, Commodities Trading Manager at Magic Flame Group, said the world is currently experiencing the biggest energy shock in history. He noted that the conflict in the Middle East is now in its third month, affecting economies worldwide. “The impact is also being felt in Bulgaria. Many farmers woke up to fuel prices that are 40% higher, while fertilizers have also become more expensive. This creates uncertainty, and many agricultural producers do not know what their final costs will be,” he said.
According to Boyan Rashev, energy expert and founder of the Mind Your Future Platform, the world is in the midst of its biggest energy crisis, although its full effects have yet to be felt because countries are currently relying on reserves. He warned, however, that these reserves could last only until June. “The countries that have long neglected the foundations of the global energy system will suffer the most,” Rashev said.
Svetoslav Georgiev, Director of the Geological Institute at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, said that, as a net importer of oil, Bulgaria has no choice but to follow global oil prices, with the increase inevitably affecting end consumers.
Plamen Dimitrov, member of the Board of the Bulgarian Geopolitical Society, said the shock from the oil shortage does not yet appear as severe because oil now accounts for a smaller share of global GDP than during previous energy crises. Experts Discuss Energy Policy, Crisis at Sofia Forum 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-05-19 17:33:00 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law