Bulgaria is discussing additional gas supplies from Azerbaijan
Source：Investor BG
From：Taiwan Trade Center, Sofia
Update Time：2022/08/12
Currently, the country receives 1 billion cubic meters of natural gas under a contract signed in 2013
Resigned Prime Minister Kiril Petkov is visiting Baku and is holding talks with President Ilham Aliyev about additional gas supplies from Azerbaijan, the press service of the Council of Ministers writes. At the end of 2021, Head of State Rumen Radev held similar talks.
Bulgaria currently has a contract for the supply of 1 billion cubic meters of gas per year from Azerbaijan, signed by Bulgargaz in 2013. According to the agreement, gas supplies began in 2020 and are for a period of 25 years. The quantities were agreed back in 2008, when the Nabucco route was discussed - a project that was never realized and the gas from the Shah Deniz II field in the Caspian Sea enters Europe through the Trans-Adriatic Gas Pipeline (TAP).
After the suspension of Russian gas supplies, the contract with Azerbaijan is currently the only long-term contract of our country. A few days ago, KEVR chairman Stanislav Todorov, whose appointment was however determined to be unconstitutional, called on Bulgargaz to look for opportunities for long-term suppliers of natural gas.
A few days ago, the European Commission (EC) signed a memorandum under which gas supplies from Azerbaijan will be doubled (to at least 20 billion cubic meters) by 2027. During a visit to Baku, the chairman of the commission, Ursula von der Leyen, agreed that this year the supply of Azerbaijani gas will increase to 12 billion cubic meters compared to the current 8 billion cubic meters.
This is part of the measures that Brussels has taken to solve the gas crisis. The steps foresee the search for alternatives, including both liquefied and piped gas, as well as general purchases of natural gas.
During the talks in Baku, Petkov and Aliyev agreed that the possible increase in supplies to Bulgaria would be discussed by the energy ministers of both countries.
The two also discussed new opportunities in the export of chemical fertilizers from the Caspian Sea region and in the import of food and cosmetics from essential oils from Bulgaria, the Council of Ministers also stated.
Source: https://www.investor.bg/energetika/472/a/bylgariia-obsyjda-dopylnitelni-dostavki-na-gaz-ot-azerbaidjan-356757/