In spite of dim forecasts of a possible collapse of Bulgarian electric power export after the closing of units three and four of the Kozloduy nuclear power plant, the National Electric Company (NEC) would export over 4 billion kilowatt-hours in 2007, NEC executive director Mardik Papazyan said on December 20 as reported by mediapool.bg.

While this was 52.7 per cent of the 2006 electricity exports, revenues were expected to amount to 78-79 per cent of 2006. The difference was due to the increase of prices for exported electricity by 50 per cent, Papazyan said.

Currently about 6-7 per cent of daily amounts of electric power produced were exported, but if a problem with the country's energy balance occurred, the export would be stopped, Ivan Ayolov, executive director of the Electricity System Operator said.

Ayolov assured that problems within the system were not expected although only days before, he expressed his fears of a collapse of electricity supplies before the parliamentary energy committee. Ayolov said he had changed his opinion after repair programme planning at the plants had been shifted, mediapool.bg said.

Worries about insufficient coal stocks at the thermal power plants in Varna and Rousse, however, remained, mediapool.bg reported.