site.btaDeputy Energy Minister: Short-term LNG Tender Aims to Plug Hole until December

Even in case of delivery of seven LNG cargoes from US producer Cheniere, coupled with full Azeri natgas supply, there still remains a shortage of one-third to cover Bulgaria’s fill consumption, caretaker Deputy Energy Minister Elenko Bozhkov said on NOVA TV’s Hello, Bulgaria show Friday morning. Therefore, the country has to find additional natural gas supplies and is announcing a short-term tender for liquefied natural gas (LNG) to cover the shortages until December and, possibly, replace the seven cargoes in case those do not arrive. The delivery of the seven LNG cargoes can still be confirmed by August 18, added Bozhkov, who is also a member of the crisis taskforce to address the issue created on Wednesday.

The Energy Ministry will announce a tender next week for short-term supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG), so that Bulgaria may not depend entirely on the delivery of the seven cargoes, Bozhkov added.

Furthermore, the situation with the seven cargoes remains unclear because even in the case of the first one the company providing the unloading slot wants to be paid in (natural) gas and cash, without however stating either what quantity of gas it wants or what sum of money. Nevertheless, the authorities will consider the option for the seven cargoes and the tender does not cancel any of the previous options, Bozhkov said.

Every option should be explored, including that of resuming deliveries from Gazprom Export, the Deputy Energy Minister pointed out. 

The hypothesis of doubling Azeri gas supplies launched by former energy minister Alexandar Nikolov on the day of handing over power will also be discussed, Bozhkov said.