Bulgaria is negotiating with Turkey for a long-term natural gas deal

Bulgarian Acting Energy Minister Rossen Hristov arrived in Istanbul today in order to reach an agreement this month on the right of long-term access to liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals in Turkey and the delivery of natural gas to the Bulgarian border.

Senior officials of Bulgaria’s state-owned gas company Bulgargaz and the natural gas pipeline operating company Bulgartransgaz, who are looking for a new source of natural gas supply, are also taking part in the talks.

Speaking to reporters before the trip, Hristov said that talks between Bulgargaz and Botaş are progressing rapidly and that he hopes an agreement will be reached this year.

STOPPED SHIPPING FROM RUSSIA

Russia, which supplies more than 95 percent of the Balkan countries’ natural gas needs, halted natural gas shipments to Bulgaria in April after Bulgaria refused to pay in rubles.

Bulgaria wants to import 1 billion cubic meters (bcm) of LNG a year from 2036. Demand for 2023 is at a lower level as Bulgargaz will currently buy at LNG terminals in Greece. (Reuters)