Memorandum of construction of gas interconnection, between Bulgaria and Turkey, is signed.
“One of the main priorities of the current government is to ensure diversification of the energy sources, as this means security for Bulgaria.” said the Minister of Economy and Energy Dragomir Stoynev during the conference “The Future of Natural Gas”. The event is organized by Bulgarian Industrial Association and the risk management laboratory to New Bulgarian University.
“Through South Stream Project our country has taken concrete steps to diversify the natural gas routs. The EU Commissioner Günther Oettinger announced South Stream as an important European infrastructure project, which is supported by Italy, Austria, Hungary, Slovenia, Greece and Croatia. “All these countries insist on security of natural gas supply, because without this security we could not talk about competitive economy” explicitly stated Minister Stoynev. Accoring to his opinion, South Stream will not only contribute to the energy security of our country, but it will also contribute to the growth of the Bulgarian economy by creating thousands of new job opportunities.
Minister Stoynev indicated the acceleration activities undertaken by the government pertaining to construction of gas interconnections with the neighbor countries as another concrete step towards diversification of the energy supplies to Bulgaria. Upon the construction of the gas interconnector with Romania, there was a technical delay caused by falling through beneath the level of the Danube, which has already been compensated. This gas connection is expected to be under operation in June. Dragomir Stoynev recalled the visit of the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of Turkey Taner Yildiz in January, where a decision for construction of gas interconnection between the two countries was taken. “The intention for construction of gas interconnector with Turkey was announced by the Bulgarian side six years ago. This year we have signed a Memorandum of construction of the gas interconnection” announced the Minister of Economy and Energy. He also stated that both technical teams could start project implementation, and it is expected the gas interconnection to be commissioned by 2016. “We are convinced of the need for the construction of a gas interconnection with Serbia.
We also received the support of the EU Commissioner Oettinger in speeding up the interconnector with our western neighbor and in overcoming the problems raised on behalf of Serbia”, added the Minister of Economy and Energy.
“The delay in the project for construction of the gas interconnector with Greece was overcome and the required activities is to be undertaken this year.”, said Stoynev and recalled that in the autumn of 2013 Bulgargaz signed a contract for supply 1 billion cubic meters of natural gas from Shah Deniz II gas field in Azerbaijan . This natural gas amount will pass over through the gas interconnector with Greece.
“In order to ensure diversification of the energy supply, we discussed jointly with the Greek side the construction the LNG terminal for liquefied gas in the Aegean Sea”, added Minister Stoynev. He reminded that the opportunity for supply Qatar gas to Bulgaria and to the neighbor countries was discussed during his working visit to Qatar. The supply of natural gas from Azerbazhdan in 2019 is another way of diversification. In conclusion, the Minister of Economy and Energy expressed confidence for the execution of all projects defined as key to Europe’s energy security.
