site.btaDemocratic Bulgaria Warns that Bulgaria's Possible "Return" to Gazprom Could Torpedo Efforts towards Energy Independence from Russia

The Formerly power-sharing Democratic Bulgaria (DB) party said Thursday that the new caretaker government is making steps towards a "return" to Gazprom and that could torpedo the country's efforts towards energy independence from Russia.

"With its first actions, the official cabinet is taking a worrying step towards the return of Gazprom", former MP Ivaylo Mirchev from DB wrote on Facebook. His post was shared by DB on its own Facebook page.

Mirchev argued that the return of Russian gas could block opportunities for alternative supplies and leave the country completely dependent on Moscow.

Mirchev offered a six-step solution.

The government should continue negotiations with Greece for an agreement on the allocation of guaranteed capacity at the Revithoussa terminal in Greece for LNG tankers for Bulgaria. Dialogue with Turkey and the BOTAS Petroleum Pipeline Corporation should continue with the mediation of the EC to sign an intersystem agreement with Bulgartransgaz so that the Turkish terminals are used as well. The third step is to seek a better price for the framework agreement with the US's Cheniere for the supply of LNG. Compensations should be available for businesses and households for the high price of natural gas. Businesses should be incentivized to reduce gas consumption and any payments should be tied to investments in energy efficiency. Energy poverty packages should be introduced to enable households that use natural gas, to purchase high-efficiency appliances.

Mirchev also writes that the Chiren gas storage facility is being filled according to schedule and its current level of nearly 50% is higher than what it was at this time in previous years.

From July 1, 2022, the full amount of gas from the Shah Deniz II field should enter this country, he said. In the second half of the year, Bulgaria will receive 430 million cubic metres of natural gas, and for the first six months the delivered quantities were 160 million cu m. The total delivered quantities for 2022 will be slightly more than 50% of the agreed 1 billion cubic metres annually.