Bulgaria Says Russian Gas At Normal Levels Despite Decline in Pressure

Despite positive remarks made by Bulgarian officials, commentators fear that current tensions between Russia and Ukraine might have knock-on effects on Sofia, as the country is almost completely dependent on Russian gas supplies via Ukraine.

On Wednesday, authorities discussed the issue, as pressure in the gas pipeline to Bulgaria dropped after Russia suspended gas deliveries to Ukraine. However, according to the government, the pressure remains within the contractual parameters. 

“Currently there is no change in the operational regime and the supplies of the national gas transmission network and the gas transmission network for transit transmission of Bulgaria” reads a statement released on Wednesday. 

Nonetheless, the Bulgarian Security Council convened and Prime Miniser Boyko Borisov weighed in on the debate, writing a post on its blog.

“We have held a sitting and taken measures so that we are not affected. Russia has to earn money somehow and this is not a small amount of money, so, I think, they will sell gas” he wrote. 

Bulgartransgaz wrote that 'at the end of October the injection season ended and currently in Chiren underground gas storage there are over 450 mln.m3 active natural gas’, as confirmed by data published by Gas Infrastructure Europe.