September 1 (SeeNews) - Bulgaria's utilities regulator said on Friday that it endorsed a wholesale natural gas price of 63.35 levs ($35.09/32.39 euro) per MWh applicable for September, in line with an earlier proposal by public supplier Bulgargaz.
The main European TTF index, which is one of the price-forming elements considered up until August 31, exceeded 44 euro ($47.82) per MWh in recent weeks, despite a drop in the last days of August, and that has directly affected the endorsed natural gas price for this month, the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (EWRC) said in a press release.
The wholesale price of natural gas in August was 59.67 levs per MWh.
Bulgaria will receive natural gas volumes from three different sources. The price mix for September includes the whole amount of contracted Azeri gas, which will be delivered through the Greece-Bulgaria interconnector and will cover 52.5% of the country's consumption needs for the month. Bulgargaz has also awarded contracts for liquefied natural gas (LNG) delivery to two traders from the region after public tenders, the regulator said.
"A crucial factor for Europe's energy security during the winter season are the measures taken to ensure consumption - the gas storages on the continent are filled on average over 92%, and the storage in Chiren - over 93%," EWRC chairman Ivan Ivanov said.
(1 euro = 1.95583 levs)