Picture: AFP
Ankara. Bulgaria is seeking a deal with Turkey to
construct a short pipeline connecting the countries’ domestic gas
networks, as an alternative to gas from Russia, on which the Balkan
country currently depends, diplomatic sources said.
The issue is expected to be high on the agenda when Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov visits Ankara on March 20, accompanied by eight other ministers, the Hurriyet daily informs.
The project, which the European Union is ready to finance as part of efforts to diversify energy supplies, is intended to carry Azerbaijani gas to Bulgaria in emergency cases, the sources said, stressing Sofia had already reached a preliminary agreement with Baku to buy at least one billion cubic meters of gas annually.
The conduit would be about 80 kilometers long and would connect the Bulgarian and Turkish domestic gas networks from Turkey’s northwestern Thrace region to Bulgaria’s southern city of Haskovo.
The talks are still at an early stage, but a memorandum of understanding could be signed during Borisov’s visit if progress is achieved, the sources said.
A Turkish energy ministry official said Ankara was not opposed to the project in principle but doubted it would be considered a priority.
The issue is expected to be high on the agenda when Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov visits Ankara on March 20, accompanied by eight other ministers, the Hurriyet daily informs.
The project, which the European Union is ready to finance as part of efforts to diversify energy supplies, is intended to carry Azerbaijani gas to Bulgaria in emergency cases, the sources said, stressing Sofia had already reached a preliminary agreement with Baku to buy at least one billion cubic meters of gas annually.
The conduit would be about 80 kilometers long and would connect the Bulgarian and Turkish domestic gas networks from Turkey’s northwestern Thrace region to Bulgaria’s southern city of Haskovo.
The talks are still at an early stage, but a memorandum of understanding could be signed during Borisov’s visit if progress is achieved, the sources said.
A Turkish energy ministry official said Ankara was not opposed to the project in principle but doubted it would be considered a priority.
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