Bulgaria and Türkiye are set to begin discussions aimed at increasing natural gas transit capacity at their shared border, Bulgaria’s energy ministry announced on Saturday.
The expert-level talks are scheduled to wrap up by May 2, after which the two nations will seek a political agreement to proceed. This announcement followed a bilateral meeting between the energy ministers of Bulgaria and Türkiye in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Bulgaria’s Role in European Gas Transit
Bulgaria plays a vital role in Europe’s natural gas supply, hosting the only active land-based pipeline that delivers Russian gas to Europe. This pipeline became crucial after Ukraine ended its long-standing contract with Gazprom PJSC in late 2023. The Bulgarian route, which has a capacity of approximately 16 billion cubic meters annually, is nearly at full capacity and is an extension of the TurkStream pipeline, completed before Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Through this infrastructure, Bulgaria serves as a critical link for Russian and Caspian gas to reach central European countries such as Hungary, Slovakia, and Serbia, all of which remain heavily reliant on Russian energy supplies.
Türkiye’s Growing Strategic Role
Türkiye, with access to both Russian and Azerbaijani gas, is becoming increasingly important in the diversification of European energy sources.
According to Bulgarian Energy Minister Zhecho Stankov, “The Turkish side is our strategic partner in implementing our priorities related to diversification and energy security,” as stated by the ministry.
Bulgaria also benefits from an agreement with Türkiye’s state-owned energy company, Botas, which gives it access to Turkish LNG terminals and Azerbaijani gas delivered through Türkiye. However, high market prices have made it difficult for Bulgaria’s state distributor, Bulgargaz, to fully utilize the agreement, which includes a take-or-pay clause.
Exploration in the Black Sea
The two energy ministers also discussed potential oil and natural gas exploration in the Black Sea. Minister Stankov highlighted that Türkiye is interested in joining Bulgaria’s exploration efforts in the region, noting that the country’s expertise would be a valuable asset.
Potential Renegotiation of Gas Agreements
The upcoming talks will also explore the possibility of renegotiating Bulgaria’s agreement with Botas. High prices and rigid contract terms have limited Bulgaria’s ability to fully benefit from LNG imports via Türkiye.
Türkiye has shown interest in increasing its gas exports to Europe, especially as some long-term contracts with Gazprom are set to expire in 2024. Turkish officials have also proposed creating a new mixed gas supply designed specifically for the European market.
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