Gazprom Subsidiary Centrgaz 'Mulls Opening Office in Bulgaria'

Russian energy concern Gazprom's filial Centrgaz is considering whether to set up an office in Bulgaria, a company message quoted by agencies reveals.

On Wednesday, Interfax new agency quoted Centrgaz, which signed the day before an agreement with Serbia to build its section of South Stream, as announcing the opening of its Bulgarian headquarters is envisaged to be on the agenda of the Centrgaz Board of Directors due on July 10.

According to media information, which was not present on Centrgaz website's English- or Russian-language version (as of July 9, 16:15 EEST), the above-mentioned idea is one of the two points to be put forward for discussion on Thursday, alongside amendments of company charter.

Centrgaz was earlier reported to be a potential alternative to Stroytransgaz, the subcontractor that won a tender to build the Bulgarian section of the South Stream gas pipeline.

The information came weeks after the EU Commission started an infringement procedure against Bulgaria over the pipeline's construction, and the US expressed concerns at the participation of Stroytransgaz which is co-owned by Gennady Timchenko, a businessman who is in Washington's list of sanctions over the Ukraine crisis.