Bulgaria will Seek Gas from Azerbaijan, Turkey or Russia

Azerbaijan, Turkey, Russia. Bulgaria will negotiate with companies from these countries, in this order, to ensure the necessary quantities of natural gas for the winter. This was announced by acting energy minister Rosen Hristov. According to data from Bulgargaz, the shortage of the raw material is 40%, even if the deliveries from the American company "Cheniere" of seven liquefied gas tankers, agreed by the "Petkov" cabinet, are being realized. The latter is also interested in medium-term gas supplies, even if the current arrangements are not finalized, Hristov said.

"If we decide to negotiate with Gazprom, the best scenario is the resumption of supplies under the current contract (which expires at the end of the year). I don't see the point of negotiating a new contract from the beginning. We will discuss the way of payment which has been offered to other European countries. We want better terms, to see if they will agree. We must bear in mind that it is not certain whether they would want to work with us, as the previous government did drastic steps for the relations with Russia. Things are complicated in general. I hope that the economic interest will stand aside from the political one," Hristov said.

On the occasion of the seven tankers from the USA, Hristov announced that "Cheniere" refused the request of the Bulgarian side to extend the deadline for confirming the contract, which is August 19. According to his explanations, it is needed to find free slots for unloading and regasification. Hristov emphasized that for the three tankers by the end of the year, they had not been secured. Former Prime Minister Kiril Petkov claims the opposite - there was an agreement for two with Greece.

Hristov commented that he had talks...

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