Bulgaria’s public supplier "Bulgargaz" signs agreement for access to Turkish LNG terminals

Bulgaria’s public supplier "Bulgargaz” signed an agreement for a period of 13 years, through which it receives access to the terminals and the gas transmission network of the Turkish state energy company Botas.

The document was signed at the Council of Ministers in the presence of caretaker Energy Minister, Rossen Hristov and Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Fatih Dönmez.

Energy Minister Rossen Hristov described the moment as "historic":

"Thanks to this agreement, we secure the opportunity to purchase gas from all possible world producers and unload it in Turkey where it is logistically most convenient for us. As you know, last year we had serious problems with LNG supplies due to the lack of infrastructure and the congestion at the Revitusa terminal in Greece. Now, together with our colleagues from Turkey, we are solving this problem, and I want to stress that this solution is not only of national and regional importance, but also of European importance," he said.

I wish 2023 to be a fruitful year for bilateral energy relations, his Turkish counterpart Fatih Dönmez said.

"Last month, our presidents met in Istanbul, and we met with my counterpart and discussed important issues of cooperation. Even before this month has passed, they are turning into concrete steps. Today we signed a document that will develop cooperation on natural gas between the two countries and strengthen our relations. Moreover, the document is important for increasing the security of supply in the Balkan region," he said.

After the signing, Bulgaria’s caretaker Prime Minister, Galab Donev, will hold talks with Ministers Hristov and Dönmez. Other opportunities for cooperation in the energy sector between Bulgaria and Turkey are also expected to be discussed.

Images by Dessislava Kulelieva, BNT