Day in 3 news: Key airports invest in solar; New US ambassador to Sofia quizzed in Senate; Ban on Russian oil exports moves through parliament

Извънредно заседание на парламента Мартин ДИмитров Петър Чобанов Асен Василев

Day in 3 news: Key airports invest in solar; New US ambassador to Sofia quizzed in Senate; Ban on Russian oil exports moves through parliament

Извънредно заседание на парламента Мартин ДИмитров Петър Чобанов Асен Василев

© Георги Кожухаров


Parliament has rejected WCC's demand that the caretaker cabinet submit a new draft budget for 2023. The debate continued almost throughout the whole plenary day on Wednesday, after MPs decided on Tuesday to extend the current budget into next year.

If the current budget is extended, base salaries and pensions will inevitably lag behind spiraling inflation.

Airports commit to solar power

Bulgaria's three main airports will invest in solar installations in the coming years, according to the concessionaire of the airports of Varna and Burgas, Fraport, and the operator of Sofia Airport, SOF Connect.

The solar projects aim to increase the energy independence of the airports as well as reduce their carbon footprint. The Black Sea airports plan to be able to cover about 24% of their electricity needs, while Sofia's goal is to achieve 100% energy independence.

Incoming US ambassador to Bulgaria probed in Senate

The nominee for the US ambassadorship to Bulgaria, Kenneth Merton, was questioned in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on November 29th. The hearing came nearly six months after President Joe Biden announced his candidacy for the post.

The usual topic of corruption was not broached. However, senators quizzed Merton regarding the caretaker cabinet's intention to allow the Lukoil refinery to export Russian oil to third countries in exchange for paying taxes in Bulgaria.

Ban on Russian oil exports moves through parliament

The Parliamentary Committee on Energy approved a draft proposed by DPS, which bans the export to third countries of Russian oil produced by the Lukoil refinery. In addition, the proposal introduces an excise and VAT taxation on Lukoil Neftohim's products. The revenues are to finance compensation for businesses on account of high electricity prices.

Parliament has rejected WCC's demand that the caretaker cabinet submit a new draft budget for 2023. The debate continued almost throughout the whole plenary day on Wednesday, after MPs decided on Tuesday to extend the current budget into next year.

If the current budget is extended, base salaries and pensions will inevitably lag behind spiraling inflation.

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