Minister Nikolov: Bulgaria will not negotiate Russian gas before the end of the war
Alexander Nikolov, Minister of Energy, “The World is Business”, March 24, 2022
21:01 | March 24, 2022
author:
Daniel Nikolov
Bulgaria’s budget will withstand if revenues are reduced by reducing excise duties on fuels, as our country’s proposal has been made to be implemented at European level. Bulgaria is negotiating to ensure the need for domestic consumption of natural gas, but will not negotiate with Russia and Gazprom while the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues. This was stated by the Minister of Energy Alexander Nikolov to Ivaylo Lakov for the program “The World is Business”.
There is a direct link between Gazprom Export and the way Russia is governed, which is a huge barrier to negotiations. If the war continues, it is normal that there will be no possibility of negotiations on Russian gas … the war is over, at least in the medium term, so that this supplier can be relied on. Plan B – like the plan for the whole of Europe – is liquefied gas and reduced dependence on Russia. ”
Another obstacle to the negotiations is the unstable price of trade risks under the current conditions and the increased price that Bulgaria would bear, said Minister Nikolov.
Bulgaria continues to bear damages and pay for the Russian network in Serbia, which depends on the only source of natural gas, Nikolov said – 3 billion. BGN for 485 km. compared to the connection to Greece – 182 km. for BGN 240 million
According to Nikolov, alternative gas supplies to Bulgaria can be found, and negotiations with Azerbaijan are under way.
There is currently no possibility to use electricity from PAVETS “Chaira” and it is not clear what is the cause of the accident and who can be removed, said Minister Nikolov.
Either it is a matter of grandiose incompetence or horrible malice in order to establish the state, according to Nikolov, who added that there are still no safeguard clauses in the signing of the contract on the power plant’s intention or lost profits.
Similar omissions are observed in other strategically important sites or contracts, he said.
In a comment on the signed memorandum for new investments in RES capacities in Bulgaria, Nikolov said there could be no concern about the participation of Russian capital in the company’s expressive interests, as this is being monitored by regulators in the United States and Britain.
In recent years, Bulgaria’s energy sector has focused on a “long spiral, with depreciated activities, zero investment, reduced training, reduced compliance and models for interaction with any partner country,” Nikolov said.
IN Bulgargaz “strange deals … and complete lack of transparency” have been suspended, comment the account. The relaxing season of the Chiren gas storage facility has been extended by one month, which guarantees the operation of the system’s important infrastructure and has kept the price of natural gas at bay.
Due to refused quantities under a supply contract from Azerbaijan, Bulgaria on some days recorded a loss of up to 900 thousand euros.
Referring to the Kremlin’s announcement that it would have to be declared an “enemy state” like Bulgaria in order to pay for its energy supplies in rubles, Nikolov said that “as absurd as the demands are” from Russia, all companies under the auspices of BEH contracts will be saved. Such a request aims to stop the sharp devaluation of the ruble, he added.
“Whether this will lead to the positive effect it expects – absolutely not. Buy certain volumes of rubles and then close the payment back to Russia; as a counter-instrument against sanctions, this will not work.”
You can watch more about the Russian role in the Bulgarian energy sector, a battery project near Stara Zagora in the video.
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