Antitrust watchdog approves acquisition of Sliven heating utility

The state antitrust commission has approved the acquisition of the heating utility in the country’s 8 th largest city of Sliven by the local bidder Black Sea Mines – Burgas. The antitrust watchdog explains that the merger of the two entities will not represent a threat to the competition as their activities are not similar and therefore will not affect market structure. Black Sea Mines – Burgas, owned by the popular businessman Hristo Kovachki, takes full control of the plant, purchased for BGN 12.76mn (EUR 6.5mn). The heating utility is specialised in heat and power generation based on coal and natural gas inputs. It has a pipeline network of more than 137 kilometres for delivering steam heat to 14,800 households.