Bulgaria ranks first among Eu member-states in respect to dissipation of electricity, Economy and Energy Minister Peter Dimitrov said Saturday. he was speaking at a conference discussing the prospects for development of the energy sector in Bulgaria.

The conference is titled "Export of electricity from Bulgaria - nuclear power, renewable energy sources and other prospe cts. Improving interaction between private exporters and the state."

Dimitrov said it would be best if [the decommissioned] units 3 and 4 of Kozloduy N-plant begin to work until units 1 and 2 of the newly-planned Belene N-plant are put into operation. With the decommissioning of the two Kozloduy units last year electric power exports dropped by 30 per cent, Dimitrov said, but losses were not sustained because of the rising electricity prices.

Although Bulgaria stands a real chance of becoming an energy centre of the Balkans with the major infrastructure projects, this could prove difficult as countries like Turkey, Albania and Romania have also started to develop nuclear energy, the minister added.

The conference, which concentrates on the development of the energy sector in Bulgaria, free competition on the energy market, security of deliveries and the application of customs and tax legislation is hosted by the Atlantic Club in Bulgaria and the NATO information centre in Sofia, BTA reported.