The Ministry of Economy, Energy and Tourism will launch an investigation into the large-scale energy projects such as the Belene nuke plant and the Bourgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline, new minister Traicho Traikov said on July 27 2009.

Traikov issued an assurance that the new ministry would not put a single project on standby before it studies its economics and the legislative provisions.

"Unfortunately, one could work effectively only for 20 hours and therefore I could not provide a concrete timeframe for checking the large-scale infrastructure projects," Traikov said, adding that most importantly they should be profitable for Bulgaria and benefit Bulgaria's people.

Traikov said that he had already proposed the members of his team but the candidacies are still pending approval and his deputies are most likely to be announced by the end of the week.

"My colleague definitely takes up the toughest ministry at a very tough time," said former economy and energy minister Petar Dimitrov. Excluding the effects of the economic turmoil, Bulgaria boasts some of the most favourable economic climate, Dimitrov said.

Traikov turned out to hold a different view, saying one of the top priorities of his ministry would  be eliminating the country’s reputation as a symbol of corruption, which is seriously undermining business climate.

Dimitrov expressed hope that the new administration would preserve the structure of the Bulgarian Energy Holding (BEH), which now lumps together the country’s main energy assets, saying it "very much facilitates energy management in the country."

"BEH should be listed on the stock exchange and there is no question about it; the problem is that this cannot happen immediately," Traikov said. He was adamant that the Sofia heating utility should go private but provided neither timescales, nor possible methods.

Source: Dnevnik.bg