Bulgaria Energy Information

Bulgaria Energy Research

- Bulgaria's Energy & Climate Policy Framework: Bulgaria targets 34% renewables in final energy consumption by 2030, with ongoing reforms in energy markets and storage expansion. The country faces delays in EU recovery funds due to implementation challenges.

- Bulgaria's Energy Companies: Bulgarian Energy Holding (BEH) dominates Bulgaria's energy sector, controlling half of power generation, 90% of gas sales, and over 90% of lignite mining. Key assets include the Kozloduy nuclear plant, Maritza East II thermal power plant, and extensive hydropower facilities. Electricity distribution is managed by three main regional companies: ERM Zapad, ER Yug, and Energo-Pro. In the gas sector, Bulgargaz leads imports and transmission, while distribution is handled by 25 licensed companies, with Overgaz holding a 60% market share. Lukoil operates the sole oil refinery, and lignite mining is primarily conducted by BEH's Mini Maritza Iztok.

- Bulgaria's Energy Supply & Demand: Bulgaria's energy mix shifted significantly by 2024, with lignite-fired power generation dropping 59% due to CO₂ costs, pollution limits, and renewable competition. CO₂-free sources made up 66% of the power mix, while total energy consumption fell 2.6% to 16.5 Mtoe. Coal and lignite's share halved since 2010, while primary electricity (nuclear, hydro, solar, wind) rose to 29%. Bulgaria aims for net-zero power generation by 2050.

- Bulgaria's Energy Use & Price by Sector: Bulgaria's final energy consumption has remained stable at around 10 Mtoe since 2015, with oil as the primary source. Transport is the largest consumer, followed by industry. Electricity prices surged in 2021-2022 but have since declined, remaining below the EU average.

- Bulgaria's Issues & Prospects: Bulgaria is advancing its Kozloduy-7 nuclear project and aims to become a regional gas hub. Electricity demand is projected to rise slightly, with significant renewable energy investments planned, including solar, wind, and hydropower. The country is also developing gas interconnections and exploring green hydrogen initiatives.

Bulgaria Total Energy Production & Consumption

Total energy consumption declined by 2.6% to 16.5 Mtoe in 2024, after a 13% fall in 2023, in a context of lower lignite-fired power generation and higher electricity imports, after strong growth in 2021 (+8.7%) and a slow progression in 2022 (+1.2%). It slightly increased between 2010 and 2019 (0.4%/year). Bulgaria's total energy consumption per capita stood at 2.6 toe in 2024 (7.5% lower than the EU average.

Graph: Primary Consumption Trends by Energy Source

Source: Bulgaria energy report

Interactive Chart Bulgaria Total Energy Production & Consumption

Source: Global Energy & CO₂ data

Bulgaria Oil Production & Consumption

Oil production is very limited (below 120 kt in 2024). Crude oil imports have averaged 6 Mt/year since 2010 (with downs in 2020 and 2021). In 2024, they grew by 7% to 6.8 Mt. Crude oil imports mainly came from Kazakhstan (26% in 2024), Egypt (17%), Iraq (13%) and Norway (12%): imports from Russia, which still accounted for 89% in 2023, fell by 93% to 6% in 2024.

Source: Bulgaria energy report

Interactive Chart Bulgaria Crude Oil Production & Consumption

Source: Global Energy & CO₂ data

Interactive Chart Bulgaria Refined Oil Products Production & Consumption

Source: Global Energy & CO₂ data

Bulgaria Natural Gas Production & Consumption

Natural gas production is negligible (around 10 mcm) and accounts for less than 1% of the domestic supply (2024). Imports have averaged 3 bcm/year since 2010, with a peak at 3.3 bcm in 2021, followed by two years of decline and a 5% hike to 2.7 bcm in 2024.

Source: Bulgaria energy report

Interactive Chart Bulgaria Gas Production & Consumption

Source: Global Energy & CO₂ data

Bulgaria Coal and Lignite Production & Consumption

Lignite production has more than halved since 2022 (36 Mt), reaching 15 Mt in 2024, due to a falling demand from the power sector. It followed a declining trend between its 2015 peak (36 Mt) and 2020 (23 Mt), before rebounding by around 26%/year in 2021 and 2022, in a context of high demand from the power sector in 2022 with lower hydro generation and high gas prices. Certain non-profitable mines with bad quality lignite were closed. Production covers 98% of coal and lignite consumption and imports are limited (below 0.5 Mt in 2024, -25% on 2023).

Source: Bulgaria energy report

Interactive Chart Bulgaria Coal and Lignite Production & Consumption

Source: Global Energy & CO₂ data

Bulgaria Renewable in % Electricity Production

In its updated NECP (2025), the country set a target of 35% of renewables in final energy consumption in 2030, including 49.3% for electricity, 44% for heating and cooling, and 29.9% for transport (including a contribution of renewable fuels of non-biological origin). This share was 22.5% in 2023 (19% in 2022), including 29.4% for electricity, 34.9% for heating and cooling, and 8.1% for transport. The 2020 target of 16% of renewables in final consumption was exceeded in 2012.

Source: Bulgaria energy report

Interactive Chart Bulgaria Share of Renewables in Electricity Production (incl hydro)

Source: Global Energy & CO₂ data

Bulgaria GHG emissions and CO₂ emissions

Bulgaria, as all EU members, has a binding 55% GHG emission reduction target by 2030 compared to 1990 in its NDC. Emissions should decrease by 43% for sectors under the EU ETS and decrease by 10% for non-ETS sectors compared to 2005 levels (NECP, 2025). For its LULUCF sectors, Bulgaria's updated NECP targets net zero (total emissions not exceeding total removals) over the 2021-2025 period, and net removals of 9.7 MtCO2eq over the 2026-2030 period.

Source: Bulgaria energy report

Interactive Chart Bulgaria CO₂ emissions

Source: Global Energy & CO₂ data