The Russian side was "unprepared" for Bulgaria's change of position on South Stream, Russian agency Prime TASS reported today (14 July) after Bulgaria's incoming Prime Minister Boyko Borissov requested the outgoing government to freeze major energy deals until he takes over the country's leadership.
In a letter to Bulgaria's current energy minister Petar Dimitrov, published on his party website, Borissov requests the outgoing government to "temporarily stop" negotiations over the country's participation in major energy projects, including South Stream and the construction of a new nuclear power plant at Belene (see EurActiv 03/09/08).
Vladimir Bruter, an expert at the Moscow-based International Institute for Humanitarian and Political Sciences, said Borissov has always adopted pro-Western positions, sharing the EU's energy security objective of reducing dependence on Russian gas.
Bruter said Borissov's position should not come as a surprise to Russia and that Moscow should better get used to the idea that the new Bulgarian leader will keep his distance from Moscow. Vitaliy Kryukov, an expert at IFD Kapital, a financial holding, said that a change of positions or a slowdown in building South Steam could become "painful" for Russia.
Gazprom wants South Steam to be launched ahead of Nabucco, Kryukov argues, and if this target is not met, Gazprom would lose part of its market, he explained.
He further added that the new government in Bulgaria would understandably try to obtain better conditions for the country's participation in the project. But Kryukov does not expect Russia to make any concessions, Prime Tass writes.
