Bulgarian Minister Announces Gas Pipeline Deal With Turkey

Bulgaria and Turkey "will sign a political accord" for the construction of a new pipeline linking the two countries, Bulgarian Minister for Energy Traicho Traikov has said.

Speaking on Saturday after the third annual Black Sea Energy and Economic Forum in Istanbul, Minister Traikov said that the new project would be of strategic importance to both Turkey and Bulgaria. The announcement followed discussions with Turkish Minister for Energy Taner Yildiz.

"Bulgaria and Turkey will sign a political accord which will state that the project is of strategic importance for both countries," he said. "The Bulgarian-Turkish gas link, along with the interconnector gas link with Greece, will allow Caspian gas supplies to our country and the region as well as cheaper shipments from a liquefied natural gas terminal."

The pipeline link will transport between one and three billion cubic metres of gas a year over a 77 kilometre distance, Minister Traikov said. This could be doubled in the future.

The two ministers also agreed to accelerate the signing of an emergency delivery agreement from Turkey to Bulgaria, in case of any interruption to supply from other suppliers. This gas would be supplied via an existing pipeline.