A joint-stock company for the gas supply of Botevgrad will be registered by February 10 this year. The requirement of the Dutch Ministry of Economy to be registered a company for the gas supply of the town will be executed. There are several variants that are developing for the future JSC. There will be an invitation for participation to Toplofikatzia Pravetz SP JSC and Plasthim SP JSC. The company will be registered with an initial shareholders' equityand then the capital will be increased and will be deposited the contributions of the all shareholders.
Source: Botevgrad News (17.01.2000)

Bulgargas JSC has paid in the budget BGN 4.4 million profit tax for January, 2000, was reported from the national gas monopolist.
Source: Sega (18.01.2000)

US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) granted USD 276.000 to Bulgargas JSC for expansion of the gas store in Chiren Village.
Source: Standart (25.01.2000)

Overgas Inc. JSC will endow Bulgargas with USD 7 million, stated Executive Director Mr. Sasho Donchev.
Source: Pari (27.01.2000)

There is a project for establishment of 11 branches of Bulgargas JSC, stated the company's Director Mr. Kiril Gegov. Bulgargas JSC started negotiations with Petreco Sarl (Great Britain) on the project for extraction of gas in "Galata".
Source: Standart (28.01.2000)

Chimco JSC stopped the production of carbide because of unpaid bills to Bulgargas JSC and NEC SPJSC. The company owes NEC SPJSC BGN 10.000.
Source: Sega (17.02.2000)

The Ministry of Environment is going to impose sanctions on Chimco JSC and its executive Director Mr. Valentin Dimitrov because of pollution of the air in Vratza. This was reported after a meeting of Mr. Ivan Shilyashki - Chairman of the Agency for Energetics, with Mr. Kiril Gegov - Director of Bulgargas JSC, Mr. Danail Tafrov - Executive Director of NEC, and Directors of Chimco JSC.
Source: Sega (18.02.2000)

Chimco JSC paid BGN 165.000 to Bulgargas JSC and thus settled its debts to the gas company, stated Mr. Velko Gyurov, Director in Chimco JSC. Bulgargas JSC has to pay compensations to Chimco because of stopping the fuel deliveries.
Source: Standart (22.02.2000)

PA selected Neochim Invest JSC (a consortium formed by Euro Fert and Carimex Chemicals International) an exclusive buyer of Neochim JSC - Dimitrovgrad. The contract must be signed up to March 10th, 2000.
Source: Capital (29.02.2000)

Chimco JSC - Vratza will restore its activities on March 2nd. The company stopped working two weeks ago because of lack of gas supply from Bulgargas JSC.
Source: Standart (02.03.2000)

Toplofikatzia Sofia owes to Bulgargas BGN 41 850 million, Toplofikatzia Sliven owes to Cherno more mine BGN 1.363 million and to Bulgargas - BGN 309 000.
Source: Capital (08.03.2000)

The construction of a parallel main gas pipeline from The Romanian border to Turkey and Greece was launched a few days ago, at a point, situated at some 2.5 km from the city of Kardam. The pipeline will go parallel to the existing one, thus doubling the capacity of the route. According to the Bulgargas SPJSC - Sofia project the costs are estimated at USD 100 million and more. The first 47-km stage of the construction should be completed for 10 months by Gasstroymontzh JSC.
Source: Pari (09.03.2000)

Chimco JSC - Vratza will restart its production activities at the end of March, 2000. The company's debts to Bulgargas JSC have been settled.
Source: Pari (13.03.2000)

Overgas Inc JSC offered to Pleven municipality to prepare a scheme for the gas supply system of Pleven. Candidates for the gasification are Overgas Inc., British company Amek and Italian Salinni.
Source: Sega (13.03.2000)

BGN 75 million was the loss of Bulgargas JSC for 1999 because of delayed payments to the budget, announced the Director of the company Mr. Kiril Gegov. The company has to pay sanction interests for BGN 113 million on debts, not paid in the period of 1996 - 1999. At the same time the company remitted defaults to its clients for BGN 85 million.
Source: Sega (13.04.2000)

Podkrepa SU required from the Government to remit and extend the debts of Neochim JSC - Dimitrovgrad which is till now BGN 30 million. In other case if this won't happen the company may not be privatized and to enter in the list for liquidation. According to the contract with Bulgargas JSC the company has to deposit BGN 1 million annually.
Source: Pari (19.04.2000)

If Himko JSC do not start the payment of the debts to Bulgargas SP JSC do not abide by the privatization contract, the deal with the american company IBE Trance of New York may break. This was stated by the MP Dr. Krassimir Kamenov. The debts of Himko JSC are about BGN 60 million but it paid only the minimum of the debt, pointed from the finance department of the company. The debt negotiations with representatives of Bulgargas JSC continue.
Source: BTA (24.04.2000)

The ceramic plants may bankrupt if the Energetic Agency approved the offer of Bulgargas SP JSC for raising the price of the oil. This was reported by the directions of the biggest companies in the branch that created their union.
Source: Standart (24.04.2000)

The shareholders of Chimko JSC - Vratza decided to pay the debts of BGN 19.6 million during the next 5 years. The Director of Chimko JSC Mr. Valentin Dimitrov stated that the plant would work with 25 per cent of its capacity while the deal with Gasprom for preference prices of the natural gas.
Source: Standart (02.05.2000)

The Chairman of the State Energetic Agency, Mr. Ivan Shiliashki negotiated a drop of the transit fee for Russian natural oil for Bulgaria with 28.6 per cent during the visit in Romania. The agreement is to 2003 and in this period Bulgaria has to pay for the delivery through Russia USD 16 million.
Source: Pari (03.05.2000)

Bulgargas started to sell natural gas to Himko JSC after in February stopped to provide the product for the plant in Vratza. Himko JSC will fulfill orders of cooperated deliveries with Bulgarian companies among which are Folbek JSC - Nova Zagora, LUKoil - Neftochim JSC - Bourgas, Messer Himko gas Ltd, Neochim JSC.
Source: BTA (08.05.2000)

BGN 75 000 is the loss of Bulgargas JSC for the previous year, according the annual financial results of the state-owned gas company. The total company's expenses for 1999 amount to BGN 803 546. The total incomes of Bulgargas JSC amount to BGN 728 511, according to the annual reports. The reason for the bad financial results of the Bulgargas JSC is the decrease of the natural gas consumption in Bulgaria during the last year and the higher prices of the oil on the international markets.
Source: Standart (22.05.2000)

The plants that are producing floor and wall tiles in Han Asparuh JSC - Isperih, Han Omurtag JSC - Shoumen, Izida JSC - Elin Pelin, Faience JSC - Kaspichan and Podova keramika JSC, Montana will be forced to close some of the production capacities if the price of the gas continues to increase. Despite of the activity of the Bulgarian representation, the acieved results do not improve the position of the idustrial consumers of natural gas in the State. The financial reliefs of the reduce of the transit fees through Roumania are insignifant in comparision with the planned raise of the price of the gas from Bulgargas.
Source: Democracy (01.06.2000)

The Government did not accept the offers of Bulgargas for the increase of the price of the natural gas with 22 per cent and decided the price to raise with 17.5 per cent or BGN 268 for 1000 cubic metres with VAT. Some of the motives of Bulgargas JSC for the bigger increase are the delivery price and the change in the currency rate, stated the Executive Director of the company Mr. Kiril Gegov at a press conference in the Council of Ministers.
Source: BTA (02.06.2000)

A 51 per cent of the capital of the fertilizer and ammonia maker Neochim JSC - Dimitrovgrad will be acquired by the consortium Neochim Invest, the PA Supervisory Board ruled at its yesterday’s session. The price of the deal is USD 100 000. The buyer is obliged to invest the amount of USD 5.555 million in the next 5 years and covering the plant’s debts and liabilities. The Neochim Invest Consortium includes Eurofert JSC and the Lebanese company Karimex Chemical International - an affiliate of Karimex Group. The major debts of Neochim JSC are to the state gas monopoly Bulgargas JSC and amount to BGN 29.8 million. As on May 8, 2000 Neochim’s staff was 1 865.
Source: Sega (08.06.2000)

Most of the money, necessary for the investment programme of Bulgargas this year, will be granted by the State incomes of transit fees for transport of gas for Turkey, Greece and Macedonia. The money will be for the increase of the capital of the company, stated the Chief Executive Director of Bulgargas Kiril Gegov. Up to BGN 153 million will be invested this year in the transit net near Provadia. There will be more money from the reminder from the debts of Ukraine to Bulgaria according to the Jamburg agreement and the loan, received from Gasprom.
Source: Pari (09.06.2000)

PA sold 51 per cent of the capital of Neochim JSC - Dimitrovgrad for USD 100 000 to Euro Fert JSC - Dimitrovgrad and the Lebanese company Karimex Chemical International, was pointed in a statement of the Agency. Only 30 per cent of the price will be paid in cash and the rest - in long-term bonds on the State debt. The new owners are obliged to invest in it USD 5 555 555 for 5 years. 25 per cent of the capital of the company was sold in 1996 - 1997 in the first wave of the mass privatization. The main problem of Neochim is the debt of BGN 29 803 000 to Bulgargas, was reported from PA. The buyers are obliged to pay the debts of the company to the Ministry of Finance, Trade banks and suppliers.
Source: 24 chasa (13.06.2000)

The fertilizer plants Neochim JSC, Agropolichim JSC and Chimko JSC are ready for protest because of the new raise in the prices of the natural gas from July, stated the Director of Chimko JSC Mr. Valentin Dimitrov. The Management of Bulgargas JSC has already offered the Government to increase the price with 7 per cent. The price of the gas increased with 17.5 per cent last month because of the expensive petrol. From the presscentre of the Energetics Agency informed that there was not any intention to increase the price of the gas.
Source: Standart (28.06.2000)

Sofia City Court registered the following change for Bulgargas - SP JSC: the capital is increased from BGN 493 044 759 to BGN 512 691 344, allocated in 512 691 344 personal shares per BGN 1.
Source: State Gazette (30.06.2000)

The iron and steel works of Kremikovtzi JSC - Sofia are in talks with the Austrian steel group Voest Alpine to set up a joint venture to upgrade and manage Kremikovtzi’s continuos steel casting. Through this arrangement the company hopes to repay its USD 70 million debt to Austrian’s Kontrol Bank. Kremikovtzi JSC posted a loss of BGN 179.906 million in 1998. After the company was privatized the loss-making facilities were separated from the core operation. Sofia-based Daru Metals JSC bought 71 per cent in Kremikovtzi JSC capital in June 1999 for a token price of 1 US dollar. The plant which accounts for 80 per cent of Bulgaria’s ferrous metal output, had a BGN 13.005 million profit for January-May this year.
Source: Standart (03.07.2000)

Himko JSC increased its capacity of carbide to 50 per cent of the capacity with the introduction in action of two technologic lines, was reported from the company. The increase is in accordance with an order of Agropolichim JSC and with additional orders from the regional market, specified the Management. Because of the big difference between the price of the natural gas and the international price of the carbide, explained the Executive Director Mr. Valentin Dimitrov. Mr. Dimitrov also stated that it is expected from September with the introduction at the international market of China as the most considerable consumer of carbide, the price of the nitrogen fertilizer to increase and the plant to gain some of its old markets.
Source: BTA (10.07.2000)

Bulgargas SP JSC stopped the gas-supply for Toplofikatsia - Vratsa SP JSC - Vratsa, becuase of accumulated debts amounting to BGN 300 000. This was reported by the Director of the company Mr. Angel Angelov. On the îther hand Toplofikatsia - Vratsa SP JSC - Vratsa must gather BGN 3.4 million debts.
Source: Democracy (25.07.2000)

Toplofikatsia JSC - Shumen owes to Bulgargas SPJSC BGN 1 100 000. The debts of the subscribers to the company are over BGN 4 000. BGN 2500 are owed by citizens, BGN 1200 are owed by municipal and state companies and BGN 500 000 are owed by private companies. This was reported by Mrs. Milka Stefanova - Manager of the company.
Source: Standart (27.07.2000)

Privatization Agency made to the following announcement: 3.48 per cent of the capital of Medipharm JSC, Sofia were sold to rightful claimants for BGN 4257; 5. Neochim JSC, Dimitrovgrad – 51 per cent from the capital sold to Euro Fert JSC and Karimex Chemicals International SAL for USD 100 000.
Source: State Gazette (01.08.2000)

18 000 households in the town of Shoumen will remain without hot water because of debts to the local Toplofikatsia of Bulgargas. The gas company refused deliveries until the bills are paid. The Ministry of Finance granted BGN 860 000 to the municipality. The Shoumen-based TPS, however, needs BGN 360 000 more to settle its accounts with Bulgargas. The unsettled sums from private households amount to BGN 2.5 million, and those from companies - to about BGN 500 000.
Source: Standart (11.08.2000)

The State granted BGN 26.7 million to the Municipalities and to Administrations, supported by the budget which have debts to the central heating stations. BGN 19.2 million of this sum is the subsidy for the municipalities, was reported from the Energetics Agency. With these funds the heating stations have to pay the debts to the company Bulgargas SP JSC. The total debts to the gas company amount to BGN 15 million, according to data of the Energetics Agency as of the end of July. The funds are being granted in accordance with the recently approved decree for a change in the norms for the price forming in the energetics.
Source: Standart (21.08.2000)

Gasprom expressed will to buy 35 per cent of Roseximbank. Currently, negotiations for the fixing of the exact share and the sum, for which the shares will be sold, are in the process. The aim of Gasprom's share in Rosexim is that the bank should become Balkan dispatcher station for the Russian company's projects in Turkey, Greece and Macedonia. USD 47 million private credits pass through the bank. These money are granted to Bulgargas by Gasprom.
Source: 24 chasa (25.08.2000)

The transit of Russian natural gas for Turkey through Bulgaria will be increased with 1 billion cubic meters to 11 billion cubic meters by the end of this year, was announced from the Energetics Agency yesterday (August 31). This was negotiated by the representatives of Bugargas and the Turkish company Botash.
Source: Standart (01.09.2000)

The glass factory Belopal is in danger of bankruptcy. Bulgargas loses about BGN 300 000 monthly because of not paid debts of Belopal that owes to the company about BGN 2.2 million. Bulgargas may stop the technological providing of gas, was stated by the Director of Sales Department Mr. Nikolai Popov but by this way will stop the gas supply of another 6 companies which are on the territory of the factory and they are regular payers. Belopal also owes to the StatThe State Receivables Collection Agency /SRCA/imately BGN 2 million. On October 5. 2000 the consecutive case against the factory, initiated by Bulgargas and The State Receivables Collection Agency /SRCA/ will begin in Varna District Court.
Source: Black sea (11.09.2000)

Stamboliiski will start negotiations with Bulgargas for gas supply. The gas supplying network passes through the western part of the town. So far the half of the buildings have been heated by Tzelhart. The Mayor Mr. Ivan Atanasov received a promise by the Turkish Ushaklar holding that will not stop the heating over the winter.
Source: Maritsa (17.09.2000)

Specialists from Gazstroymontazh finished the construction of a new section from the transit gas-main to Turkey at the compressor station Kardam, was announced from the company's press center. The normal supply of natural gas has been restored since September 22. The construction of two 45-km sections of the transit gas-main - from the Romanian border to the village of Odrintsi and from the village of Liuliakovo to the compressor station Lozenets - will be finished by December 15.
Source: BTA (25.09.2000)

In the request of Cable Bulgaria for construction of high-speed optical network there is nothing illegal. It will be illegal if by it is transferred voice in real time not for free before the monopoly of BTC has fallen. The decision of the Council of Ministers to give its support to such a project does not concern BTC as the telecommunication company has monopoly not over the network but over the service transportation of voice through it. The intentions of Cable are over the network to be transferred TV and Radio signals, as well as Internet traffic. The company has 22 licenses for televisions in different cities. It is more profitable for it to transfer the signal among them alone not by paying to BTC. A telecommunication system of this kind in Bulgaria has Gukis. The company requests from its clients a declaration that they will not transfer voice. During June the Minister of Transport Mr. Antoni Slavinski disputed the meeting the project of Cable.
Source: Sega (30.09.2000)

The National gas supply company Bulgargas is realizing its investment programme for this year and by December 15 it will be completed, was reported from the head-office of the company. BGN 105 million are spent from the total sum of BGN 153 million. The investment programme is fixed in the agreement signed between Bulgargas and the foreign trade company of Gasprom - Gasexport. it is for a USD 47 million loan, granted by Gasprombank. The execution of the three-year investment programme will give an opportunity to Bulgargas from the end of 2001 to transit 17 billion cubic metres natural gas annually through the State's territory to Turkay, Greece and Macedonia.
Source: Banker (02.10.2000)

4 months after the privatization, the new major owner of Kaolin - Alfa finance made considerable investments. It is constructing a gas pipe in which are invested DEM 3.5 million. The trace will be in use for the factories in Senovo and Viatovo. The gas pipe is erecting according to a project of Bulgargas. In the factory in Ignatovo is building a new work-shop for milled products. Now is also building a work-shop for construction glue and the ambition of Kaolin is to be a leading company in this direction. The company has not got debts anymore as they amounted to BGN 500 000 two months ago.
Source: Pari (02.10.2000)

The underground gas repository Chiren can be used for years to come, but the current exploitation regime is leading to unjustified expenses. The repository’s capacity can be kept or even increased, if measures for about USD 1 million are taken by the end of the year 2003. This becomes clear from the preliminary results from the project for enlargement of the repository and introduction of a new information system for Bulgargas JSC. The survey is financed through gratuitous help from the Agency for Trade and Development in the USA in the amount of USD 276 000 for Bulgargas JSC. An additional sponsorship for more than USD 276 000 is realized by the chief executor - Power Center Sarcase with the University of Oklahoma, the American Power Corporation Enron and American and Bulgarian companies-executors. The project for enlargement of the repository and introduction of information system for Bulgargas is the first gratuitous help by the Agency for Trade and Development - USA in the power branch in Bulgaria.
Source: Sega (11.10.2000)

The budget of the Parliament for 2001 will increase with 38.37 per cent in comparison with the funds which the Parliament has this year. This is offered in the project budget for the next year. It is expected the expenses of the Parliament to be BGN 18.806 million. The budget of the Council of Ministers will be also raised - from BGN 66.2 million this year to BGN 78.182 million for 2001. This increase is with 18.1 per cent and the expenses in the budget are increased only with 13 per cent. BGN 3.3 billion are expected for the expenses of all departments and budget organizations.
Source: Standart (25.10.2000)

About 150 workers are threatened to lose their jobs in Beloslav. A work-shop in the glass plant Belopel may stop its work because of a lack of orders for production. The work-shop began to produce half an year ago with the hope that its production will be realized at the markets in Greece and Italy. The high production costs is the main problem of the company. The natural gas is the main raw-material that they want to buy at preferential prices. However the monopolist Bulgargas is increasing the prices permanently and at the moment it is putting on trial Belopel because of debts.
Source: Black sea (25.10.2000)

The price of the natural gas is increasing with 16.42 per cent up to BGN 312 with VAT added for 1000 cubic metres, decided the Government in a decree for defining the prices of the electricity and the natural gas. The reason for the increase is the highest prices of the fuels at the International markets and respectively of the deliveries of natural gas from Russia, stated the Chairman of the State Energetics Agency Mr. Ivan Shiliashki. The increase will be compensated with an additional subsidy from the budget for this year for the heating centers that amounts to BGN 16 million.
Source: BTA (03.11.2000)

The price of oil has risen 3 times for 2 years - from about USD 10 to USD 30 for a barrel. In Bulgaria this reflected more on the natural gas than on the petrol. The reason is in the defects of the contracts with Gasprom which Bulgargas signed and the Government approved in the spring of 1998. Now Bulgaria reduced the transit fee from USD 2.40 to USD 1.66 which Topenergy owed for the transport of 1000 cubic metres Russian gas at distance of 100 km on the traces to Turkey, Greece and Macedonia.
Source: Trud (08.11.2000)

The syndic association to Agropolihim - Devnia sent an open letter to the Prime Minister Mr. Ivan Kostov and the Ministers Mr. Petar Zhotev, Mr. Muravey Radev and Mr. Ivan Shiliashki. The association reminds that the permanent increase of the price of the natural gas that is the main raw-material for the production will bring the company to liquidation. According to specialists from the association during the summer of 2000 after the consecutive increase of the prices were approved measures for relieving of the fertilizer's plants.
Source: Black sea (09.11.2000)

The members of the Board of Directors of Belopal wiil discuss about the prospectives of the company and the ways of survival at the market. There may be some changes in the Board of Directors. At the moment is working only one work-shop and 2 weeks ago was closed another one. 150 workers were dismissed. At the same time Bulgargas wants to take the assets of the company because of unpaid debts. According to experts Belopal will sell a part of the productions. Beside this it will be looking for a buyer of the trade complex. 34 per cent of the assets of Belopal are privatised by Nash dom, 25 per cent are a property of Trud i kapital and the rest are allocated between the State and a MEBO formed in the plant.
Source: Black sea (09.11.2000)

The Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Petar Zhotev declared after a meeting with the Directors of the three fertilizers' plants Agropolihim, Himko and Neohim, that there will be initiated protective measures at the import of fertilizers. The reason for this is the new increase of the price of the gas which is the main raw-material for the production. According to Mr. Zhotev there can't be made any corrections and that is way the State could prevent the plants from the dumping outside. At the moment Himko is losing USD 40 per each ton but the plant won't stop its work, stated the Director of the company Mr. Valentin Dimitrov.
Source: Sega (10.11.2000)

Neochim JSC - Dimitrovgrad has paid the amount of BGN 10 million to Bulgargas JSC - Sofia. Thus the chemical plant's debts amounts currently to BGN 28 million. The profit of Neochim JSC for the first nine month of the current year is in the amount of BGN 58 million. The privatization of the company by the consortium Neochim Invest was completed on August 28, 2000.
Source: Pari (13.11.2000)

The everyday gas-supply will be allocated between 6 or 9 companies. The State will be separated to 9 regions for gas supply, said mr. Krassimir Popov, the Director of Gasstroymontage. The company will be included in the gas supply together with Overgas and Black sea technical company that are licensed for this service. Gasstroymontage will take part in the privatization of the 11th gas allocating companies of Bulgargas.
Source: 24 chasa (15.11.2000)

Bulgargas JSC will finish the year with a loss of over BGN 75 000. This was stated by the Executive Director of the company Mr. Ilia Ivanov. He said he could not define the exact sum of the loss but it has been considerable so far. The bad financial condition of Bulgargas SP JSC is because of the record high prices of the petrol at the international markets. The other reason is the delayed with three months raise of the prices of the gas with 16.5 per cent. It had to be efficient as of July but the Government decided to raise the prices as of September. Meanwhile the second Executive Director of the company Mr. Kiril Gegov confirmed the statement of Mr. Ivanov that the company is in bad financial condition in spite of the increased transit through Bulgaria of natural gas from Russia to Turkey.
Source: Standart (21.11.2000)

The Director of the Energetics Agency Mr. Ivan Shiliashki dismissed secretly two of the members of the Board of Directors of Bulgargas JSC. The members Mrs. Juliana Dimitrova and Mr. Jordan Krustanov were dismissed with an order of Mr. Shiliashki. Bulgargas will be managed by 5 instead of 6 people. The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the company remains Mr. Antoan Nikolov. The Chief Executive Director Mr. Kiril Gegov and the Executive Director Mr. Ilia Ivano kept their positions. The membership of the Board of Directors of Bulgargas JSC was decreased because of the difficult tasks that are connected with the reconstruction of the company and the problems with the high price of the natural gas, explained Mr. Ivan Shiliashki.
Source: Standart (29.11.2000)

The Chairman of the Board of Management of Agropolichim Mr. Vassil Alexandrov stated that the company may initiate legal measures against PA in order to receive a default because of non-execution of the privatization contract. According to the contract, the Agency had to pay half of the sum with which to be done a clearing of the old ecological pollutions at the territory of the plant. Agropolichim started to pay off its debt of the Vratza-based Himko to Bulgargas. In the plans of the owners of Agropolihim - Acid and Fertilizer are included a reconstruction of installations for fertilizers and their production. The profit of the company for 1999 will be used for covering of losses from past years, decided the General Meeting.
Source: 24 chasa (04.12.2000)

Agropolihim JSC will provide cheaper gas for Himko JSC, according to agreement of the Directors of the two fertilizers' plants. For the gas Himko JSC will supply carbamide for production of liquid fertilizers by Agropolihim JSC. The dealed quote between the plants for January 2001 is 20 000 t carbamide by March, 2001.
Source: Standart (14.12.2000)