Ministers Malinov and Szijjarto discussed bilateral cooperation to maintain energy security in the region
The possibilities for expanding bilateral cooperation to maintain energy security in the region were discussed at a working breakfast in Sofia by the Bulgarian Minister of Energy Vladimir Malinov and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary Péter Szijjarto. "By strengthening the strategic partnership, we will seek common solutions to overcome the challenges in the energy sector. One of the ways to achieve this is through better connectivity between the producing regions and the consuming regions of green energy with affordable and predictable supplies," emphasized Minister Malinov. He recalled that at the COP29 climate forum in Baku, Bulgaria presented a document to encourage dialogues on energy connectivity. With its improvement in the transmission of electricity along the corridor from south to north in Europe, energy security will be strengthened, as well as the integration of renewable energy into the system.
Minister Szijjártó reiterated Hungary's support for Bulgaria's accession to the intergovernmental agreement on the Green Corridor project and assured his host that our country will be included in it. The two agreed that two options for a route for the transmission of green energy from the Caspian region through Bulgaria should be developed within the framework of the feasibility study.
During the conversation, Minister Malinov emphasized Bulgaria's key role in the diversification and security of energy supplies. In this aspect, our country's role will become increasingly important for the implementation of the Vertical Gas Corridor - a strategic initiative to increase the security of gas supplies for the countries of the region. He informed his interlocutor that the Bulgarian state operator Bulgartransgaz EAD fulfills its contractual relations on time and with the required quality. The energy minister was categorical that after the sanctions imposed on Gazprombank, the company, which has reserved transmission capacity through Bulgarian territory, should find a way to pay in order to continue to be provided with the service. During the conversation, an option was discussed that includes the Hungarian side as part of the solution.
The two ministers also discussed topics of bilateral iterest related to the preservation and development of nuclear power in both countries. They agreed that nuclear power plants have a future as baseload power plants that can produce electricity at affordable prices. Péter Szijjártó presented the progress in the construction of new nuclear power facilities in Hungary. Minister Malinov, in turn, presented Bulgaria's plans to develop its nuclear power sustainably with two new units at the Kozloduy NPP.