Bulgarian and Romanian electricity transmission system operators have signed an agreement for emergency power supply in case of accidents that can threaten their supply systems, Bulgarian Ministry of Energy announced.

The agreement was signed on October 3,  at a meeting in Varna, by Electricity System Operator of Bulgaria and Romanian Transelectrica CEOs and in the presence of Bulgarian Energy Minister Temenuzhka Petkova and her Romanian counterpart Toma-Florin Petcu.

The agreement entered into force on the day of signature, and expires on December 31, 2018.

According to the agreement, the emergency assistance must be provided within one hour upon receipt of a request, if the supplier accepts it.

Petcu and Petkova discussed in early September a power contingency plan. They agreed that Bulgarian and Romanian electricity transmission system operators should discuss a deal on providing emergency assistance.

Last winter, due to the problems caused by harsh weather Bulgaria made a request for the urgent supply of electricity from neighboring Romania. Romania declined it because it was dealing with similar problems and record power consumption.