Minister Highlights Water Theft and Price Hike Issues in Parliamentary Hearing
During a parliamentary hearing on Wednesday, Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Ivan Ivanov identified water theft as a key issue in Bulgaria’s water sector, contributing to rising water prices, CE Report quotes BTA
To address this, Ivanov announced that he had ordered a due diligence inspection of water and sewerage (W&S) companies following recent price increases. The review, expected to be completed within a month, will examine unaccounted water losses and so-called commercial losses that influence pricing. The minister also called on the Interior Ministry to take action against water theft and urged citizens to report any such incidents.
Discussing municipal investment programs, Ivanov pointed out that many proposals lack coordination with W&S operators. He expressed hope that a new law, published in 2024, would resolve these issues and ensure better alignment between municipal and national infrastructure plans.
The minister also initiated a review of potential duplicate projects funded by different programs, including European and municipal sources. He warned that prioritizing state funds over EU financing could hinder the implementation of European programs.
The hearing also included Bulgarian Water and Sewerage Holding Executive Director Irena Georgieva and Energy and Water Regulatory Commission Chair Ivan Ivanov.
