site.btaGovernment Prepared to Promptly Introduce Proper Measures in Event of Disruption, Total Stoppage of Gas Supplies - Energy Minister Nikolov

The Bulgarian energy system is functioning normally at the moment and the government is prepared to promptly put in place proper measures in the event of disruption or total stoppage of gas supplies, Energy Minister Alexander Nikolov said, quoted by his Ministry. 

On Monday Nikolov took part in an extraordinary Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (Energy) meeting called in response to requests by several member states, Bulgaria including. The EU energy ministers exchanged views on the energy situation in Ukraine and Europe following the military aggression by the Russian Federation.

Nikolov stressed the need for undertaking immediate, decisive and coordinated steps in the EU, in particular measures to guarantee the resilience of the energy system and the affordability of energy for households and businesses, including by mobilizing financial resources at the European level in support of national budgets. 

Nikolov dwelled on the close cooperation between Bulgaria and Greece intended to speed up the energy connectivity in the region as part of the process of diversification of the energy sources. Another case in point is the reverse gas connector with Serbia, he said. 

The Bulgarian Energy Minister noted the importance of implementing the priorities of the European Green Deal but stressed that the right of the member states to determine themselves the best energy solutions that suit them should be respected in full. Nikolov voiced Bulgaria's support for the speedy integration of the Ukrainian electricity network in the European one.