PM Borissov: Bulgaria Will Be Able to Declare Full Gas Independence in 2020

Inspecting the progress of construction of the Gas Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria (IGB) on Monday, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said that next year Bulgaria would be entitled to say it has achieved gas independence. The route will be completed ahead of schedule and Bulgaria will be able to supply LNG from the United  States, Qatar, Cyprus, Egypt and Azerbaijan, he said.

The inspection involved Energy Minister Temenouzhka Petkova, the  energy regulator's Chairman Ivan Ivanov, US Ambassador Herro Mustafa, Greek Ambassador Dimitrios Chronopoulos and Azerbaijan's Ambassador Nargis Gurbanova.

Borissov stated: "After an extremely transparent procedure, Bulgaria took out a loan with a bank guarantee and is contributing 500 million leva to the project. Two Greek companies won the contracts for pipe supply and construction. This shows we are not just open and transparent. We have always said that Bulgaria and Greece must share their resources – Greece hould be able to use the Black Sea and Bulgaria should be able to use the Aegean Sea."

Addressing the ambassadors, Borissov stressed that IGB is key to the diversification of sources and routes for natural gas supply to Southeastern Europe.

US Ambassador Mustafa said the project would guarantee Bulgaria's energy security, which also means national security.

Greek Ambassador Chronopoulos said Greece, Bulgaria and the US would be brought together in another energy project - the floating LNG terminal in Alexandroupolis. This will change the entire region of Greece and Bulgaria, he said.

The planned length of the pipeline is 182 km, the pipeline diameter will be 32" and the projected capacity will be up to 3 illion cu m a year in the direction from Greece to Bulgaria. The ipeline is designed for a capacity increase to 5 billion cum. The project will ensure that Bulgaria and its neighbours have access to alternative supplies from the Caspian Region, as well as from existing or future LNG terminals.

Borissov said the construction of a road connecting Alexandroupolis and Dimitrovgrad would give Bulgaria access to the Aegean Sea, just as Greece would have access to the Black Sea and the Danube. He added that the option of giving each country access to one quay at selected sea ports free of charge had been discussed with his Greek counterpart Kyriakos itsotakis. Thus Greece will have a transport route northwards to Moldova, Ukraine and Russia, while Bulgaria will be getting goods from the south. 

Source: BT