According to Rosen Hristov, the acting energy minister, The Kremlin has determined that Gazprom will not work with Bulgaria. He explained, ” “In Russia, it has been decided that Gazprom will not cooperate with us. I’m not sure if the statement is true or not. However, we are attempting to convey to Russia that we are prepared to resume talks within the framework of the existing agreement. Under particular circumstances, the European Commission also provided some conditions that Germany follows”.
He clarifies that Bulgaria will not make any political move or compliment to make Gazprom happy. The Minister claimed that relations with Russia were handled “extremely emotionally” by Kiril Petkov’s previous regular government. According to Hristov, the second-cheapest natural gas supplier we are in contact with or negotiating with is Gazprom. He pointed out Azerbaijan as the cheapest gas producer, but Bulgaria is still looking for Russia.
The Minister explained, “We have a contract that expires at the end of the year, and there is a take-or-pay condition if we don’t take the required numbers. As a result, we might run the danger of arbitration. I honestly don’t see why this subject is being politicised. We need to think practically. The cabinet didn’t turn towards Moscow and that it was only about already contracted gas. Our only concern is to receive the contracted gas. We’re not talking about new contracts. We’re not talking about expansions here. We’re not talking about volume increases”.
He claims that the government intends to diversify gas imports from Turkey and Greece and to assign supply slots for liquefied gas from significant corporations like Cheniere, Sempra, European Totale Energie, and Shell.
Hristov asserted that “the whole agreement was designed in a very improper way. Slots should have been reserved first, and then seek a quote in response to the caretaker government’s rejection of the six tankers with American liquefied gas accepted by the “Petkov” cabinet.
