Prioritize the opportunities for reverse supplies of natural gas to Bulgaria, in view of the expected production from the Black Sea of up to 8 billion cubic meters per year, called on the Minister of Energy Traycho Traykov at a meeting with the Ambassador of Romania to Bulgaria H.E. Brunduşa Ioana Predescu. He expressed hope that the blocks that Bulgaria has given for exploration will also yield positive results.
Minister Traykov stressed the importance of sustainable infrastructure for energy and transport connectivity, which is a key factor for secure and competitive supplies of goods and raw materials in the region.
Bulgaria is making progress with the expansion of the gas transmission network along the Rupcha - Vetrino route Vetrino, part of the Vertical Gas Corridor, which will increase the transmission capacity from 5 to 10 billion cubic meters per year in the south-north direction. The commercial operation of the corridor is expected to begin in October 2026. In parallel, regulatory decisions are being finalized that will contribute to more competitive prices for future supplies. Our country took a strategic initiative for meetings in Sofia with the CESEC coordinator, American partners and the regulator, which gave impetus to more competitive tariffs and more efficient operation of the capacity platforms, Minister Traykov pointed out.
The conversation also discussed the initiatives for the Azerbaijan-Georgia-Romania submarine electric cable, as well as the possibilities for Bulgaria to join under certain conditions. The Romanian side expressed its readiness to support the process. The Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey-Bulgaria green corridor was also discussed, the basic principles of which have already been agreed upon.
The construction of a third bridge over the Danube River and the development of the highway project connecting Greece and Romania via Bulgaria were also the subject of the conversation between Minister Traykov and Ambassador Predescu. Our country expects the acceleration of work on the new railway and road bridge over the Danube River and its access from both sides - 15 km each in Bulgaria and Romania, for which European funding has been allocated. However, the repeated suspension of the procedure by the Romanian National Company for Highways and National Roads CNAIR led to a delay, which was explained by the need to provide clarifications requested by the participating companies regarding the awarded public procurement contracts. It is expected that a contractor for the feasibility study for another infrastructure project of interest to both countries - the Veliko Tarnovo lot in the direction of the “Maritsa” highway, Minister Traykov informed. In a regional context, with the future expansion of the Alexandroupolis - Constanta highway to the Ukrainian border, this section could prove to be part of a key route for the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine, the minister also emphasized.