BNAO audits biofuels

Bulgarian NAO audits biofuels

In 2014 BNAO carried out an audit focused on the performance of the EU and national
objectives in production and consumption of biofuels for the period 01.01.2008 г. 31.12.2012 г.
Bulgarian national targets are to achieve 10 percent share of energy from renewable
sources and biofuels in transport in the total share (16 per cent) of energy from renewable
sources in gross final consumption of energy and 6 per cent share in the final overall
reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2020.
The EU Directives on biofuels have been transposed into national legislation. The Law on
renewable energy specifies objectives for the development of second-generation biofuels,
increase of the capacity of producers of biofuels and development of scientific potential. The
respective Action plans do not contain measures related to these priorities.
The production of energy crops hasn’t been encouraged since 2010. The main tool for
promoting production and consumption of biofuels is the mandatory supply of conventional
fuels containing a certain amount of bio-component, increasing to 6% for biodiesel and 9%
for bioethanol in 2020.
Till the end of 2012, national objectives for the share of biofuels in renewable energy in
transport have not been met (for 2012 it is only 0.3%). The difficulties in achieving the
national and EU biofuels objectives are related to delay in the establishment of sustainability
criteria for biofuels and the lack of economic incentives for use of biofuels. The Government
faces several challenges: lack of coordination between responsible institutions in the field of

biofuels; insufficient funds for the replacement of conventional fuels in the public transport
with biofuels; absence of a national certification system for economic operators; need of
integrated monitoring system over all processes related to the production and consumption of
biofuels.

For further information, please contact Eva Galabinova at
e.galabinova@bulnao.government.bg and Bulgarian NAO at intrel@bulnao.government.bg.