On January 14 2008 Bulgaria banned export of electricity for a week, Economy and Energy Minister Petar Dimitrov told journalists.

The temporary ban on export was a part of export limitations which would be in force until March 31 2008, investor.bg quoted Dimitrov as saying. The measures were necessary because of a 20 per cent increase in the use of electricity on the domestic market.

The export ban would be reviewed on a weekly basis.

National Electric Company (NEC) Lyubomir Velkov said that the minister had the right to order such limitations in case regular electricity supply in the country was threatened.

If Bulgaria had continued to export the same amount of electricity, it would not have had enough reserve power in case of an accident, he said.
The current measure averted this danger.

"We will not allow Bulgaria to turn into a disco with power rationing," Reuters quoted Dimitrov as saying. "The country will export power only after it ensures its own needs".

Restrictions on export were in force for all companies which have export contracts, Velkov said.