site.btaOutgoing Energy Minister Comments Gas Supplies

Appearing in a show on the Bulgarian National Television on Sunday, outgoing energy minister Alexander Nikolov said that there is natural gas, but the issue is to take such decisions so as to make the costs of gas supplies socially bearable. 

Nikolov said that the most recent suggestion regarding the existing and still active agreement between state-owned Bulgargaz gas distributor and Russia's Gazprom Export has come from Bulgargaz.

Russia stopped gas supplies to Bulgaria in late April. 

In Nikolov's words, "there is nothing which Bulgargaz could have done additionally". 

Nikolov argued that at the moment Europe cannot survive without gas supplies from Gazprom Export. 

"Natural gas has long ceased to be an energy source and has become a political instrument," Nikolov said, in reference to a recent statement by Russian Ambassador to Sofia Eleonora Mitrofanova that Gazprom supplies to Bulgaria could resume as soon as this country meets certain conditions.

Commenting a preliminary agreement on the supply of seven shiploads with liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States, Nikolov said that many courses of action are available, such as using alternative supply routes and terminals, or re-sale. 

"It is ugly to use people's fears in election campaigning," Nikolov said, noting that if anyone has a better solution on gas, they are welcome to share it. 

He was apparently referring to opinions aired by GERB party members who claim that the LNG transported by sea cannot reach Bulgaria, and that this country has not reserved gas terminal capacities.