In a telephone conversation yesterday (21 October), Putin and Borissov agreed to establish a Russian-Bulgarian joint venture by 15 November that will conduct a feasibility study for the Bulgarian section of the South Stream pipeline.
The two leaders also confirmed their commitment to completing construction of the Belene Nuclear Power Plant ( NPP) and discussed the possibility of attracting third countries to the project, according to a statement published on the Russian government's website.
During negotiating with Sofia, Moscow has been pushing forward its energy projects in Bulgaria as a package (see 'Background').
According to sources cited by Bulgarian daily Standart, Putin and Borissov will meet on 15 November to sign the deal, which is expected to include steps for building the Belene NPP. The venue of the meeting is not yet known.
The telephone conversation appears to mark the end of Borissov's strategy of giving equal treatment to the competing South Stream and Nabucco projects. It could also herald defeat in the prime minister's attempt to reduce his country's dependence on Russia for energy.
South Stream is designed to achieve full control over Bulgaria's gas pipeline network, experts warned recently. While Nabucco is stumbling over legal obstacles to laying its pipes on Bulgarian territory, its Gazprom-backed competitor, through the recent so-called 'Varna deal', includes a compromise solution for transporting some of the gas from South Stream via the existing Bulgarian gas pipeline network.
The deal, which will see Bulgarian pipes carry 17 billion cubic meters (bcm) of South Stream's expected 63 bcm, appeared to be a concession from Borrisov, who had initially ruled out this option.
In fact, both South Stream and Nabucco rely on sections of existing pipeline in the transit countries.
The cost of the Bulgarian section of South Stream is estimated at US$835 million and the construction of the Bulgarian section is expected to be completed by the end of 2015. It is unclear how Bulgaria, which is in a difficult economic situation, would secure funding for the project.
Putin and Borissov have reportedly noted "a positive development" in implementing the agreements on the Belene Nuclear Power Plant. They also discussed "inviting a third investor from a country experienced in nuclear energy production".
The new plant, which is only Bulgaria's second and comes 20 years after the construction of the first in Kozloduy, is expected to become operational in 2013-2014, at an estimated cost of €4 billion.
