THE BULGARIAN GOVERNMENT announced in December 2003 that it intends to go ahead with plans to switch the energy sector from public to private hands.

The government said that in order to ‘increase energy efficiency and maintain the country’s position as the Balkan region’s top energy provider’, the country will sell off its energy firm to private investors next year.

Of the hydro capacity, nine small hydro power stations were privatised in the past year. Twelve more are expected to be sold to private investors.