Electricity exports will be restricted temporarily in order to meet domestic demand, Economy and
Energy Minister Peter Dimitrov told a news conference on Tuesday. He issued an order to this effect after consulting the State Agency for Energy and Water Regulation.

"Currently, the stability of the energy system in Bulgaria is not jeopardized. You could assume simply that I am very cautious," Dimitrov said. The restriction will be in place until March 31, he said.

Electricity exports have been stopped completely until the end of this week, National Electric Company (NEK) Chief Executive Lyubomir Velkov told journalists later in the day.

He said that a week of subzero temperatures has caused residential consumption of electricity to increase 20 per cent from the like period of last year, thus causing an "extreme situation".

The NEK will make sure that domestic demand is satisfied even if that means complete cessation of exports or even import of electricity, Velkov said.