Gazprom delegation pays visit to Bulgaria

As part of the visit Alexey Miller met with Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov and Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov.
The parties addressed the current status and the prospects for Russian-Bulgarian cooperation deepening in the energy sector. Special emphasis was placed on the progress in implementing the pre-investment stage of the South Stream project. Preparation of the feasibility study for the Bulgarian section of the gas pipeline and foundation of a joint engineering company by Gazprom and Bulgarian Energy Holding were identified as paramount tasks.
The parties shared the opinion that the South Stream was ultimately important for diversifying the routes of Russian gas supply to Europe and raising the energy security.
Russian natural gas has been exported to the Republic of Bulgaria since 1974. In 2009, according to the provisional estimates, Russian gas exports to Bulgaria accounted for 2.64 billion cubic meters. At present, Gazprom is the only gas exporter to Bulgaria.
Gazprom exports natural gas to Turkey, Greece and Macedonia via Bulgaria. In December 2006 the existing Transit Contract between Gazprom export and Bulgargaz was extended from 2010 to 2030.
In January 2008 Russia and Bulgaria signed the Intergovernmental Agreement stipulating Bulgaria’s involvement in the South Stream project.
On May 15, 2009 Gazprom and Bulgarian Energy Holding EAD signed the Agreement of Cooperation during the gas pipeline construction to transit natural gas via the Republic of Bulgaria as part of the South Stream project. The document sets forth the cooperation principles during the feasibility study preparation for the Bulgarian section of the gas pipeline and the joint engineering company incorporation.