site.btaNo Talks with Gazprom on New Natgas Supply Contract while War Continues - Energy Minister

At this point, Bulgaria is not holding talks with Russia's Gazprom on a new long-term natural gas agreement because of the tense situation over the ongoing war in Ukraine, Bulgarian Energy Minister Alexander Nikolov told bTV in an exclusive interview on Sunday morning.

Negotiations can start in the second half of the year, but only provided the war has ended by that time, Nikolov specified.

Bulgaria's effective contract with Gazprom will expire at the end of 2022.

According to the Energy Minister, if the war ends, gas prices will be back to their normal levels and the nearly 40 per cent increase of the natgas price, requested by Bulgargaz for May, may be rejected. "The gas price surge has flattened appreciably over the last week," he added.

At present, there are no plans to compensate businesses for the steep gas prices, Nikolov said, arguing that gas consumption is not that large and electricity production is not that dependent on gas consumption. The government may think about compensations for household heat users for the next heating season, he pointed out. LG