site.btaGazprom Is an Option, Energy Minister Says

Caretaker Energy Minister Rossen Hristov believes that Russian company Gazprom is one of the options for supplying natural gas to Bulgaria. "I have never said that Gazprom is not on the list of companies with which we want to negotiate," Hristov told the media, emerging from a meeting of the Energy Crisis Taskforce (ECT). "On the contrary, I have always maintained that it is one of the options. Things with Gazprom will be resumed if necessary. After we managed to secure only one shipload last week, and businesses were adamant earlier today that the price levels are unacceptable, Gazprom Export becomes an absolutely valid option, and we are beginning to negotiate with them. I have never written them off the list. We have drawn up a strategy based on all options, so that we can start negotiations as soon as it becomes necessary."

Hristov has invited Greek Environment and Energy Minister Kostas Skrekas to visit Bulgaria to see firsthand the country's progress in the Greece-Bulgaria gas interconnector project.

According to Hristov, Azerbaijan has indicated that it can increase natural gas supplies to Bulgaria by up to 50%, but it is necessary to negotiate for new prices, which are not guaranteed at present.

The ECT meeting was attended by sectoral and employer organizations and trade unions.