Nearly one fifth of Bulgaria’s energy production will rely on renewable energy resources by 2020, Deputy Environment and Water Affairs Minister Atanas Kostadinov said.

Kostadinov took part in a conference on investment in wind generators and in water electricity production, Focus news agency reported.

Bulgaria has the potential to meet European Union requirements included in its strategy for new energy policy since the country has the needed natural resources, Kostadinov said.

EU determined a 20 per cent average increase of renewable energy resource usage within union member countries by 2020.

It was time to understand that the country could no longer produce energy like it did in the 70s, Kostadinov said.

A draft law for encouraging renewable energy resources usage has been already tabled in the Parliament, Deputy Economy and Energy Minister Valentin Ivanov said. If the law is put into practice it will boost economic growth and reduce harmful gas emissions.