No one knows if there will be gas at all. This became clear from the hearing of the executive director of “Bulgargaz” Lyudmil Yotsov before the deputies of the temporary commission in the parliament for gas supplies to Bulgaria. Today it held its first meeting after several weeks of failure.
Our country has paid Gazprom, but the money was returned because we paid in dollars and not in rubles. Bulgaria has not agreed to the unilateral change in the payment by the Russian Federation. After April, payments to Russia are delayed, but not because of us, it became clear from his words.
Bulgargaz continues to hold talks with Gazprom, including by telephone. The Greek companies and a Bulgarian one convert their accounts to Russia, it became clear from Yotsov’s words.
A Bulgargaz representative did not travel to the US with the Prime Minister and the Minister of Energy, Yotsov said. The company did not make an inquiry to liquefied gas traders, but chose a specific supplier, who himself offered “Bulgargaz”. The offer was very good, we couldn’t get a better oneargued the head of Bulgargaz.
The MPs entered into a dispute as to whether there is a decision of the Council of Ministers or whether the department alone has decided what should happen to gas supplies. According to Temenuzka Petkova from GERB, it is a matter of national security whether we will have gas supplies.
Azeri gas will reduce the price of gas a little, but the trend is for the price of the blue fuel to rise globally. Even if there is gas, Europe does not have enough capacities, admitted the head of Bulgargaz. This would be overcome in about two years, he said.
Every trader is an intermediary, this is how he responded to the opposition’s criticism that intermediaries are used for gas supplies. In his words, it was known who had how much gas in the region. Alternative supplies are more expensive, but we can do what we can, Yotsov pointed out, saying that more liquefied gas tankers are expected.
The head of “Bulgargaz” reassured that there are secured quantities of gas for the month of July. However, it turns out that suppliers are difficult to find. An awful lot of gas is being sought now, Ludmil Yotsov explained. It is widely sought to be sold in Hungary and from there to Western Europe.
Bulgargaz wants a 32% increase in the price of gas from July. There is nothing agreed for October, November and December, it became clear from his words. The amount of gas for August is partially secured. Still, the company did its best to provide gas until the end of the year.
A few hours earlier, the energy committee did not gather a quorum and its meeting failed. Minister Alexander Nikolovwhich was supposed to be heard by the deputies, however, he commented on the issue of natural gas.
Yesterday the business sounded the alarm and asked for clarity on the price of natural gas for the month of July, emphasizing that there is still not even a proposal of “Bulgargaz” sent to KEVR for the commission to approve. Today employers’ organizations asked extraordinary National Council for Tripartite Cooperation.
Bulgartransgaz CEO Vladimir Marinov said that in Chiren there are 194 cubic meters of gas, that is about 35% of the capacity. Two scenarios will be developed – for full use of the capacity and for the impossibility of filling our capacity according to European requirements. Accordingly, measures will be developed so as not to put the heating season at risk. By the end of October, “Chiren” should be 78-79% full, as this is the optimistic option. The pessimistic forecast is to fill 60%, it became clear from Marinov’s words.
Lyudmil Yotsov said that there is no capacity in the region to absorb large quantities of gasbut Vladimir Marinov did not agree to this. Bulgaria has free capacity. There is free capacity from Serbia to Bulgaria and also from Romania. Whether supplies from Russia will resume, Yotsov said it depends on the politicians. He does not expect the price to drop. There may be one if Nord Stream supplies are restored. Nothing can be predicted, according to the head of “Bulgargaz”.
Yotsov admitted that the company has liquidity problems. There are also taken loans. There are problems with debt collection. BGN 272 million owed by “Heating – Sofia”. These obligations must be compensated by Bulgargaz, and this was done with loans.
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