Greece and Bulgaria return to the table for an alternative natural gas project to the Strait
The European Union (EU) restriction of the Russian oil price cap, which came into force yesterday, and the increase in transit tariffs in the Straits, boosted Greece, which has been experiencing tensions with Turkey for some time.
According to Qatar’s Al Jazeera television news, Greece and Bulgaria once again sat down at the table for the alternative gas pipeline project to the Strait, which was previously shelved. Speaking to Al Jazeera about the talks, Bulgarian Energy Minister Roman Hristov said the 280-kilometre pipeline planned to be built between the Aegean Sea ports of Alexandroupoli and Black Sea ports of Burgas could be extended to Romania.
Saying they were exempt from Russian oil sanctions for two years but would be in trouble over increased Strait tolls, the Bulgarian minister said they have resumed negotiations on the Burgas-Alexandroupolis pipeline plan.
Greek Prime Minister Kiriakos Mitsotakis and his former Bulgarian counterpart Kiril Petkov met in July at the opening ceremony of the pipeline that will transfer gas from Azerbaijan to Bulgaria.
Greek Energy Minister Kostas Skrekas also expressed his support for the plan.
IT WAS THROWN OVER US OBJECTIONS.
Britain’s Financial Times newspaper reported that because of the Western-imposed maximum price cap on Russian oil, Russian tankers coming from the Black Sea had piled up in the Straits in recent days, and Ankara wanted a new “insurance guarantee.” “of everyone. ships. The new sanction implemented by the EU is expected to cause further disruption to oil shipments by ship.
The Burgas-Alexandroupolis pipeline plan was first put on the agenda in 1993, and the two countries signed an agreement with Russia in 2007. However, the plan was shelved in 2010 amid Bulgarian environmental concerns and objections. from America to dependence on Russian energy.
‘TURKISH-GREEK COMPETITION INCREASED WITH THE WAR’
Speaking to Al Jazeera, Greek oil industry expert Mike Myrianthis said there are serious delays in cross-strait transit and the pipeline plan is a good solution. In the news, it was also claimed that Turkey increased the tariff for oil tankers passing through the Bosphorus by five times in October.
Al Jazeera also commented that the Russian invasion of Ukraine increased the geopolitical rivalry between Turkey and Greece.
Previously, the news was reflected in the press that the US saw in the Port of Alexandroupoli in Greece an alternative to the Strait and began to actively use the port for military shipments to NATO countries in the region.