Bulgarian Energy Minister Rejects Rumours About South Stream Project

The Russian saga continues not only in Brussels, but also in Sofia. 

According to Bulgarian newspapers, Energy Minister Temenuzhka Petkova said that there are no construction activities going on in the country to build the South Stream gas pipeline.  

Petkova rejected allegations suggesting that Bulgaria is promoting the project, writes Novite, despite the recent tender reportedly launched by the Government for the offshore section of the pipeline. 

In December 2014, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that the South Stream project had been cancelled, blaming Bulgaria for its alleged delays in granting permission for the pipeline. Putin then suggested Sofia to ask for compensation from Brussels. 

Meanwhile, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov held a meeting with Serbia's Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic.  

'Dacic ... announced that the two countries will continue to work together on projects such as Corridor 10, railways, gas interconnections and the connection of electric power systems' reads the note released by the Serbian government.