ABSTRACT
Bulgaria is often singled out as one of the most vulnerable countries in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) from the point of view of energy security. Journalists and foreign policy experts never fail to point out that it receives more than 90 per cent of its natural gas as well as a comparable share of its crude oil from Russia. This chapter begins with a general snapshot of the energy sector in Bulgaria. It then focuses on its development since 1989 and the role of Russia. Next, the discussion zooms in on three cases where energy security, whether defined as reliability of supplies, affordability of resources and output, or more broadly, transparency and accountability of policy making, has been at stake. The chapter ends with a brief overview of the most recent developments in the Bulgarian energy sector and concluding remarks concerning the overarching issues of security and insecurity.
