PM Petkov orders a thorough check into "Balkan Stream" gas pipeline project over suspicions for corruption

Prime Minister Kiril Petkov announced that he would order an immediate thorough inspection into all deals on the construction of the Balkan Stream gas pipeline.

The reason is suspicions of corruption expressed by the American partners during Petkov's visit to the US, which ended on May 11. The transit pipeline for the supply of Russian gas was built in just one year under the government of Boyko Borissov.

Kiril Petkov explained to ministers and the media that projects such as the Balkan Stream are “exactly what people mean when they say that corruption is used as a foreign policy instrument".

The cabinet meeting also discussed a request to the European Commission for a derogation for the excise duty on electricity and natural gas, resulting in a reduction in their prices.

The prime minister also shed some more light on what has been agreed with our American partners in the US - along with the two ships with liquefied American gas that will arrive in Bulgaria in June, at prices lower than the European ones and those of Gazprom, Petkov has also made great progress in the negotiations for substitutes of F-16 fighter jets as an alternative to the ones we have not yet received.

From the Prime Minister's words it became clear that all contracts concluded during the construction of the Balkan Stream will be checked in detail.

"Our partners see corruption as a major tool for Putin's influence in our region and in Europe," he said.

BNT asked the energy minister why the inspection is necessary:

"After some checks have been made and after seeing what kind of vehicles are present in one particular place, further checks are needed," energy minister Alexander Nikolov explained.

BNT question: You are specifying some cars, these are not all deals.

Alexander Nikolov: I am not specifying some cars. I'm saying what the reason is to do a check. As well as the financial results and the costs incurred before that.

The energy ministry is already negotiating for regular supplies of liquefied natural gas from the United States, the prime minister said.

"The most important thing for us is that Bulgarians have the best prices, the most secure supplies, without relying on a supplier who unilaterally removes conditions and contracts. So this is a big victory," said Kiril Petkov.

The government also approved today the request to the European Commission to reduce the excise duty on electricity and gas. The decision is related to the energy price crisis, which has affected all European countries, including Bulgaria.

In this way, according to the cabinet, the competitiveness and profitability of energy-intensive sectors, where energy costs account for a high share of production costs, will be preserved and the constantly rising electricity and fuel prices will be contained.