Bulgaria tenders for LNG supplies to ride out energy crisis

Bulgaria's state gas company, Bulgargaz, is launching three tenders for liquefied natural gas (LNG) on Tuesday (20 September) to avoid winter shortages and ensure long-term energy security, said Chief Executive Denitsa Zlateva.

The Balkan country was almost totally reliant on Russian gas before Moscow cut deliveries in August and is now struggling to secure sufficient supplies at affordable prices for businesses in the European Union's poorest member state.

The interim cabinet that took office in August after the collapse of the coalition led by reformist premier Kiril Petkov, which refused to pay for Russian gas in roubles, has asked Gazprom to consider restoring supplies to Bulgaria.

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Russian energy giant Gazprom halted gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria on Wednesday (27 April) citing their failure to pay for gas in roubles, in the Kremlin's toughest response yet to the crippling sanctions imposed by the West for its invasion of Ukraine.

It is also holding talks with Azerbaijan to boost gas deliveries during the winter.

Bulgaria is also considering opening tenders for pipeline gas from neighbouring Turkey, interim energy minister Rossen Hristov said.

"We are not closing the door to anyone," Hristov told reporters, adding that Bulgaria is aiming to buy 130-150% of its required gas in case a supplier fails to deliver.

Bulgargaz has laid out its proposals to Gazprom but there have been no developments as yet, Hristov said.

The minister has previously said Bulgaria needs to press for its contracted gas from Gazprom, which was bought at cheaper prices than those available on spot markets and was for supplies until the end of 2022.

Bulgaria has asked Gazprom to deliver what was due under its contract in resheduled shipments until the end of the heating season next spring.

Bulgargaz will open a tender for LNG deliveries for the last two months of the year, CEO Zlateva said. Bulgargaz will seek about 142 million cubic metres (mcm) of gas for November and about 190 mcm for December.

The company will also seek offers for supplies of LNG throughout 2023 for a total of 1.5 billion of cubic metres (bcm) and will launch a six-month process for LNG deliveries of 1 bcm a year from 2024 through 2034, she said.

Bulgaria consumes about 3 bcm of gas a year. It receives about 1 bcm a year from Azerbaijan under a long-term contract, but was unable to use the full amount before the completion of a gas link with Greece.

The interconnector will be inaugurated on 1 October in the presence of Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen.

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(Edited by Georgi Gotev)