Gazprom

The small, in length, but strategically important IGB pipeline, which connects the Bulgarian system with the Greek natural gas transmission system and the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), will start commercial operation, next month, in July. Today (17 June) the pipeline will undergo final testing  with the introduction of the last quantities of 1.5 million cubic meters of gas.

Gazprom continues to supply natural gas to Europe through Ukraine. This was announced today to the media by the spokesman of the Russian holding Sergey Kupriyanov, quoted by TASS.

"It is possible that the Greek gas connection will start operating in July", said Prime Minister Kiril Petkov in response to a question from the Bulgarian National Radio.

"Everyone predicted September, October, November - no, it will open in July," the prime minister said today in Veliko Tarnovo.

The Energy and Water Regulatory Commission approved the price of natural gas, as of June 1, 2022, in the amount of BGN 141.36 / MWh (excluding prices for access, transmission, excise and VAT). At this price, Bulgargaz will sell natural gas to the final suppliers of natural gas and to persons who have been issued a license for production and transmission of heat.

The price of natural gas in Bulgaria in June will be lower than in May.

This became clear after the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (EWR) published the proposal of the state supplier Bulgargaz, proposing that the price of gas for June be BGN 141.28 / MWh.

For May, EWRC approved the price of natural gas of BGN 162.17 / MWh.

Here are the highlights of events related to the war in Ukraine over the past 24 hours:

The Russians took "most" of a key eastern city

Russian forces are taking control of most of the eastern Ukrainian city of Sievierodonetsk, the regional governor said.

Russia's Gazprom announced on Tuesday that it was suspending gas supplies to the Danish company Orsted and Shell Energy under its gas supply contract with Germany. The reason is the refusal to pay for the raw material in Russian rubles, Reuters reported.

European Union leaders have agreed to ban more than two-thirds of Russian oil imports, tightening economic screws on the country even as Moscow's forces press their offensive in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region.

"Bulgaria should close its ports and demand compensation from Gazprom for the suspended Russian gas" - this was called for by the fifth Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko in an interview with bTV.

The Russian government has authorized the temporary lifting of "mirror sanctions" and allowed for 90 days the flow of natural gas supplies from Yamal LNG to Gazprom Marketing & Trading Singapore Ltd, which is part of Gazprom Germany, shows a government decree on Wednesday, Reuters reported.