Due to the high price of electricity: KCM Plovdiv stopped working

The business in our country is threatening with protests and gradual shutdown of production facilities. The reason is the record high electricity prices on the free market.

The price of the so-called day-ahead market segment – electricity is purchased for next day delivery.

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According to the Bulgarian Federation of Industrial Energy Consumers, the average daily price on the electricity supply market today was over 169 euros per megawatt-hour. For comparison, the price in Germany was almost half – a little over 98 euros.

The non-ferrous metals plant near Plovdiv stopped working this Wednesday for the first time in its 60-year history. 1,500 people are on forced leave.

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Photo: btvnovinite.bg

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“Yesterday we decided to stop production until the price returns to levels that make economic sense for us. With us, it is reflected in some losses, which amount to BGN 200,000 per day, “said Ivan Dobrev, Executive Director of KCM Plovdiv.

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With such price differences with the energy in Europe, the lead and zinc they produce are unsaleable in European markets.

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Photo: btvnovinite.bg

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“Our direct competitors use between 50 and 70 percent cheaper electricity. For energy-intensive and energy-intensive productions, this is an absolute collapse “, says Dobrin Ivanov from BICA.

The business believes that the market in our country is systematically creating a deficit through limited supply of electricity and so the price jumps. The chairman of the Bulgarian Energy and Mining Forum and MP from “There is such a people” Ivan Hinovski, also alerted about the situation.

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Photo: btvnovinite.bg

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“The stock market is in chaos, unmanageable liquidity and low electricity supply,” Hinovski said.

In the last few years, due to the price of carbon emissions, TPP “Maritsa East 2” operates with a very reduced capacity – only 2 units out of 8, ie. with 20-25% capacity “, Ivanov commented.

The Ministry of Energy told bTV that a third unit of the plant was put into operation on Tuesday, and the produced electricity is already on the market:

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Photo: btvnovinite.bg

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“As a result of this inclusion, the price of the day-ahead segment of the Bulgarian Independent Energy Exchange is now BGN 258 / MWh, which is a decrease of about BGN 70 compared to yesterday’s values.”

Bulgarian Energy Holding pointed out that they cannot determine the market behavior of the companies in the group, but is ready to include the fourth unit of TPP “Maritsa East 2”.