July 2 (SeeNews) - Bulgaria's energy regulator said that it has approved an increase in the wholesale price of natural gas for July to 49.94 levs ($30.19/25.53 euro) per MWh.
In June, it was 45.27 levs per MWh.
In its decision, the regulator took into account information about the market indices of the European gas hubs and the average euro/dollar exchange rate of the European Central Bank, it said in a statement on Thursday.
The approved hike reflects the continuing growth in prices on the international gas markets, it added.
The increase in the wholesale gas price in July is higher than expected. Last month, public gas supplier Bulgargaz proposed to the regulator to approve a wholesale gas price of 46.88 levs per MWh, to be valid in the month of July.
Bulgarian energy regulations require Bulgargaz to set the gas price monthly. The energy regulator has the final say on the proposed changes in the wholesale price, at which the state-owned company sells natural gas to end-suppliers and customers directly connected to its transmission network.
(1 euro = 1.95583 levs)
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