On 14/10 in Sofia was held the Greek-Bulgarian Energy Meeting, co-organised by the Energy Management Institute (EMI) of Bulgaria, which hosted the meeting, and the Energy Institute of SE Europe (IENE). The purpose of the meeting, which was held at a higher level, was to explore the possibilities for further expansion and strengthening the already close cooperation between the two neighboring countries, in the field of energy.
This special ad hoc meeting was chaired by Mr. Slavtco Neykov, President of EMI, who for many years was the Director General of the Energy Community and the Secretary General of the Ministry of Economy and Energy of Bulgaria. From IENE participated the President and Executive Director Mr. Kostis Stampolis, as well as the General Secretary of the Institute, Mr. Costas Theofylaktos, who also chairs the Energy Efficiency Committee of the Institute.
The meeting attended the Deputy Minister of Energy of Bulgaria Mrs. Iva Petrova and from the Greek side the Ambassador of Greece to Bulgaria Mr. Dimitris Chronopoulos, who was accompanied by senior officials of the Greek Embassy in Sofia. Also present from the Bulgarian side was Ms. Tania Mihaylova, Director of the Diplomatic Institute and other officials of the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
On behalf of HBCB, the Executive Director Mr. Minko Gerdjikov attended the meeting along with other high-ranking executives of Bulgarian and Greek energy companies, including executives from the companies AES Bulgaria, Countlurglobal, Bulgartransgas, Overgas, EKO Bulgaria and Terna Energy.
The expected operation of the Gas Trading Hub in Greece in 2022 from EnEX, the further development of cross-border trade in electricity and gas, the application of CO2 retention and storage technologies in lignite power plants of the two countries, were some of the issues discussed.
The next step, as decided in the meeting, is the convergence in Sofia of the first Greek-Bulgarian Energy Forum within 2022.
