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Main page > Comments > Fuel & Energy > Bulgaria ready to support South Stream
Bulgaria ready to support South Stream
In the course of a visit to Bulgaria by Russian deputy PM Viktor Zubkov and Gazprom Export head Alexander Medvedev some progress in bilateral energy cooperation between Moscow and Sofia was achieved. After a series of evasive statements the Bulgarian government for the first time publicly declared it would not refuse construction of the South Stream gas pipeline. The project's roadmap should be signed soon; according to the Bulgarian leader, the gas pipeline is to start operating in 2015.
It should be mentioned that problems in Russian-Bulgarian relations emerged in summer 2009, when ex-karate coach Boyko Borisov became Bulgaria's prime minister. He is a politician with a pro-Western reputation (i.e. not eager to support energy projects initiated by Russia) and is inclined to make impulsive and emotional decisions. Since the very beginning of his tenure Borisov hinted Bulgaria may give up joint projects with Russia the main ones being the South Stream gas pipeline (Bulgaria's section), the Burgas-Alexandropoulos oil pipeline and the nuclear power plant in Belene. For several months it was predominantly assumed that Bulgaria's new authorities simply intended to obtain additional official concessions from Moscow on the joint projects as well as some unofficial payments that would have secured Sofia's consent. The Bulgarians also insisted on removing the Overgaz Inc trader from the schemes of Russian gas supplies. By the way, out of all demands by Sofia the latter requirement looked the most rational one from the point of view of Bulgarian state interests but it has not been met by the Russian side yet. Realizing a real danger of losing a possibility to charge transit fees on South Stream (the pipeline may run through Romania), Bulgaria went back on its gas stance at last.
Simultaneously with the gas deal Bulgaria and Russia made up a similar document on the nuclear project - the Belene nuclear power plant. This project is very beneficial to Bulgaria, since the nuclear facility is to be built by the country that will also deliver gas to Sofia, which creates a comfortable room for energy maneuvers by the buyer.
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