Bulgarian Anti-Trust Body Rules against Suspension of 53 Mln Euro ESO Tender
Bulgaria's competition regulator said it has dismissed the request of local company Atomenergoremont for suspension of the Electricity System Operator's 103 million levs ($62 million/53 million euro) tender for construction of a 400 kV overhead transmission line linking Varna and Burgas power substations. Atomenergoremont filed a complaint against ESO's actions in relation to the tender on November 1, and asked for suspension of the procedure until the anti-trust body issues its final decision on the complaint, according to data published by the Commission for Protection of Competition on Monday. The suspension of the tender is against the public interest, as well as the interest of ESO, as the procedure is part of an EU-financed project for construction of a 110-kilometer AC 400 kV single-circuit interconnector between Dobrudzha and Burgas substations, the regulator said in its decision.ESO launched the public procurement procedure in September and subsequently extended the deadline for submitting offers to November 8.