Sofia Opts For National Champion

摘要

The government of Bulgaria has decided to pursue long-standing plans to establish a national energy champion by merging five of its key sector companies into a single holding company. The decision, which was taken February 10 by the ruling coalition's Political Council, aims to create a single state-owned energy giant to be known as the Bulgarian Energy Holding capable of competing in the regional and European market, the government said in a statement on its website. The government said that benefits should include "better investment potential, higher credit rating and a lower cost of raising capital." This could "boost growth to levels unattainable by stand-alone, financially weak companies," it said.rnThe five companies to be merged are the country's national power company NEK, state gas company Bulgargaz, the Kozlodui nuclear power plant, the Maritza Iztok II thermal power plant and the Maritza Iztok coalrnmines.