Energy and Water Regulatory Commission
The amendments to the Energy Act reducing the number of members of the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission from 9 to 5, were published in the State Gazette. Thus, the mandates of two of the members are terminated – the one with legal expertise and the commissioner with experience in the field of economics. Members of the energy regulator remain Alexander Yordanov, who retained his post after the draw, and the two commissioners in charge of the water sector – Dimitar Kochkov and Penka Trendafilova.
The only candidates Stanislav Todorov and Blagoy Golubarev have been nominated for a new chairman and a new member of the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (EWRC), it became clear during their hearing in the parliamentary energy committee on Wednesday, February 2, 2022. They substitute Ivan Ivanov and Evgenia Haritonova, whose mandates expired in 2020.
Bulgarian Energy Holding
Increasing the board of directors of BEH from 5 to 9 people and the appointment of a second executive director came into force in 2021. The new members of BEH’s board are Anton Simeonov, Veselina Katanova-Buchkova, Zheko Zhekov and Plamen Dilkov. One of the current members – Ivan Andreev supports the new leadership. The required majority is also changing, 5 people are already needed for decision-making. With the new decision of the Minister, the old one, which provided for the dismissal of all five members and the appointment of new ones, was repealed. Thus, in reality, the current leadership has not been changed or removed. The new executive director – Ivan Andreev joined the board of BEH together with Valentin Nikolov in 2021. From 2016 to 2018 he was the executive director of Kozloduy NPP and also a member of the board of directors of the State Company “Radioactive Waste”. Plamen Dilkov is perhaps the most recognizable person among the new additions, having been the manager of Svoge HPP, Maritsa HPP and PVB Power Bulgaria. In 2015, Dilkov’s name was mentioned as a candidate for head of the Security of the electricity system fund when it was established.
Subsequently, at the beginning of January 2022, two of the members of the Board of Directors of BEH were dismissed. The configuration of the board itself has been reduced from 9 to 7 people. Valentin Nikolov and Alexander Tsarnorechki were both dismissed.
Bulgargaz
Lyudmil Yotsov will be the new director of the state-owned gas supplier Bulgargaz. He has worked in the private sector – currently in charge of MET Energy Trading Bulgaria, which is part of the Swiss group MET, which in recent years has developed both gas business in the country and renewable energy projects as well as electricity trading. Until 2015, however, Yotsov was the financial director of Bulgargaz. The executive director Nikolay Pavlov and the whole board of directors of Bulgargaz have been dismissed.
Apart from Yotsov, members of the board of directors are also – Anton Adamov, former legal adviser of “Bulgargaz” – Angela Slavova, as well as two businessmen – Ivan Topchiiski and Stefan Voynov.
Mini Maritsa East
Todor Todorov, who is the executive director of the state-owned Mini Maritza Iztok EAD, has submitted his resignation. The main reason is the decision of BEH to change the headquarters of the company from the town of Radnevo to Veslets street in Sofia.
Subsequently, at its meeting, the Board of Directors of Mini Maritza East elected Ilza Chinkova as an Executive Director of the company. She will hold the position temporarily, until official procedures for electing a new CEO takes place.
