Bulgaria Approves Third Natural Gas Price Hike in Three Months

The Energy and Water Regulatory Commission of Bulgaria approved a 5.5 percent increase in the regulated natural gas price for September 2026. The new rate is set at 41.6 euro per MWh, excluding taxes and transportation costs, marking the third price hike in three months.

Regulators forecast that prices will remain elevated throughout the autumn due to low European gas storage levels, which are currently estimated between 62 percent and 63 percent. Despite the increase, the commission noted that Bulgarian gas prices remain approximately 25 euro lower than broader European market rates.

This pricing stability is attributed to competitive supplies from Azerbaijan, the primary gas provider since Gazprom unilaterally halted deliveries in 2022. Bulgaria currently receives Azeri gas through pipelines in Turkey and Greece. To supplement these supplies, the state-owned company Bulgargaz utilizes liquefied natural gas from the Alexandroupolis terminal in Greece.