Bulgaria receives maximum possible amount of Azerbaijani gas: Bulgargaz

Bulgaria receives the maximum possible amount of Azerbaijani gas from the point from which it is currently supplied, said Svetoslav Delchev, an independent member of the board of directors of Bulgargaz, Report informs.

He denied allegations that Bulgargaz had not stated the maximum possible quantities of natural gas from Azerbaijan.

Delchev explained that due to the lack of connection with Greece, Bulgaria could not receive more than a third of what was agreed because this is the possible amount of gas that we can get from the point through which we currently supplied. Because of the delayed construction of the gas pipeline to Greece, Bulgaria suffers negatives, Delchev pointed out.

Bulgaria continues to buy Azerbaijani gas at the agreed prices, but the Azerbaijani supplier does not make any commitment to these supplies because Bulgaria cannot get them through the agreed point - the non-existent gas connection with Greece.

The IGB envisages the transportation of gas produced in the second phase of the Shah Deniz gas condensate field in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea to Bulgaria. Through this pipeline, which will be connected to TAP, Bulgaria will import 1 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually from Azerbaijan. Thus, the state company Bulgargaz EAD has signed a contract with the Shah Deniz consortium to purchase this amount of gas from the Shah Deniz-2 field. At the expense of Azerbaijani natural gas, Bulgaria will be able to meet 25-30% of its gas needs. The construction of the IGB is expected to be completed in the second half of next year.

A total of 150 kilometers of the 182-kilometer pipeline will pass through Bulgaria. The annual capacity of the pipeline is estimated at 3-5 billion cubic meters.

As part of the development of the Southern Gas Corridor, the countries of South-Eastern and Central Europe will have the opportunity to import alternative supplies and liquefied natural gas from the Caspian region through the IGB.