Growing attraction of Bulgaria’s energy markets for international players Sofia on Trump’s “energy dominance” radar

As Bulgaria has been shifting away from Russian energy dependence in recent years, it has shifted into the centre of international energy projects and become a particularly interesting choice for US partnerships.

It is embracing nuclear collaboration and, seemingly, US President Donald Trump’s “energy dominance” strategy as it redefines its regional energy future.

In the past, Bulgarian energy discussions have focused on Russian gas, diverse pipelines, the Russian energy company Lukoil, and Soviet-era nuclear power plants. However, as an article published by National Interest notes, this is all about to change as the country’s energy industry gains significant global attention.

US President Trump’s National Energy Dominance Council has a clear mandate to reinforce the importance of stable baseload energy, drawing on America’s vast resources and technological capabilities.

The Trump administration’s energy policy has moved away from the Biden-era emphasis on “renewables” such as solar and wind power. Instead, it promotes a broader portfolio that includes advanced and small modular nuclear power units, as well as next-generation geothermal systems — a direction expected to accelerate in the coming years.

In this context, Bulgaria appears ready, and politically willing, to adopt advanced American energy technologies that could position it as a leading regional energy supplier.

Bulgarian energy landscape

Bulgaria’s energy strategy has evolved through multiple phases since joining NATO in 2002 and the European Union in 2007. Today, around 70 per cent of its electricity comes from nuclear and coal power plants, with only about six per cent generated from intermittent renewables such as solar and wind. The remaining 17 per cent is produced by hydropower and gas turbines.

As part of the EU’s Green Deal, Bulgaria plans to phase out coal power by 2040 — a move that continues to shape its long-term energy policy.

Long tradition of nuclear energy

Nuclear power remains the cornerstone of Bulgaria’s energy independence, following the country’s historic tradition in this energy field. It used to be the largest producer of electricity through nuclear means in the 1980s, surpassed only by the Soviet Union and East Germany.  Despite closing several Soviet-era reactors in line with EU requirements, the two remaining units at the Kozloduy nuclear power plant in northern Bulgaria still produce roughly 35 per cent of the country’s electricity.

Bulgaria’s nuclear legacy dates back to 1966, when it signed an agreement with the Soviet Union to build commercial pressurised water reactors. Today, Bulgaria stands as the largest exporter of electricity in Southeast Europe.

In April 2024, Bulgarian suppliers signed a memorandum of understanding with US-based Westinghouse Electric to construct two new AP1000 reactors at Kozloduy and to source fuel for both existing and future units. The deal directly counters Russia’s reactor-and-fuel package model in Eastern Europe and underscores Bulgaria’s alignment with the American “energy dominance” framework.

Even as Bulgaria deepens its partnership with the United States, energy diversification remains a guiding principle. Expanding nuclear generation with small modular reactors (SMRs), once commercially viable, would support the country’s transition away from coal while keeping it compliant with EU clean energy standards.

Meeting gas demands without Russia

Bulgaria has also made strides in reducing its reliance on Russian natural gas. It began importing gas from Azerbaijan in 2021, initially receiving 270 million cubic meters. A major shift occurred in 2022 with the opening of the Greece-Bulgaria Interconnector (IGB), which connects Bulgaria directly to the Southern Gas Corridor.

By the end of 2022, Bulgarian imports of Azerbaijani gas had surpassed 500 million cubic meters, and the volume has continued to rise since.

Before the IGB pipeline, Bulgaria imported roughly 3 billion cubic meters of gas annually from Russia. Now, by linking its domestic grid to the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), Bulgaria has significantly reduced that dependency.

Washington views Sofia as a gateway to Russia's energy backyard

Although US nuclear expertise and fuel production capacity had declined in recent decades, Washington views its collaboration with Bulgaria as a strategic opportunity to expand influence in the Balkans. The partnership could serve as a model for other Central and Eastern European countries seeking alternatives to Russian energy.

The growing American presence in Bulgaria may also open new opportunities for US companies in a region long dominated by Moscow, offering what some in Washington see as a more achievable front in countering Russian energy influence than Asia.

By Nazrin Sadigova