The Bulgarian Association “Natural Gas“ (BAPG) and the Bulgarian Gas Association (BGA) as professional organizations representing the gas sector in Bulgaria, express our deep regret in connection with the tragic incident in the city of Bankya on 24.01.2025. We believe that it is essential to present our position on the case and to support efforts for its objective coverage. This is stated in an open letter by the two associations and adds:
First of all, we would like to emphasize the importance of professionalism and responsibility in communicating with the public in such moments of crisis. We are concerned to see how, even before the results of the investigation are available, various institutions have begun to make assumptions about the causes of the incident, pointing accusations at the gas installation and infrastructure, without this being based on objective facts in the course of the investigation by the competent authorities. We categorically oppose such an approach, as it creates unnecessary tension and undermines trust in a proven reliable energy source, such as natural gas. Until indisputable facts are established, all conclusions and statements remain in the realm of speculation and we call on public discourse to focus on currently known circumstances.
We draw attention to the fact that natural gas is one of the safest, most environmentally friendly and economically efficient sources of energy. It is responsible for about a quarter of the total energy consumption in the European Union, and has been the main energy source for domestic heating for decades. In Bulgaria, active household gasification began at the end of the last century, and currently there are over 150,000 household and industrial customers. The incident in Bankya, if it turns out to be related to a gas accident, will be the first such case in the history of the gas sector in Bulgaria. This fact in itself clearly indicates that such a case will be a precedent and related to extraordinary circumstances. Claims without evidence that it has a direct connection with the gas installation or the associated gas infrastructure are incorrect at this stage. Moreover, such unfounded conclusions are extremely harmful, as they damage the image of the sector and cause unfounded concern among consumers.
In the opinion of many of our members' specialists, even in the event of a gas leak in building premises, this amount of damage, as we see in the incident in Bankya, should not occur with a normally designed and implemented building installation.
In addition to the already available data from the gas supply company, which categorically show that the flow meter has not recorded consumption at the site since 22.01.2025, the State Agency for Metrological and Technical Supervision came out with a categorical position, according to which such an incident could not have been caused by natural gas. We call on the competent authorities to continue their investigation objectively and thoroughly in order to establish the true causes of what happened.
Regardless of the above, the incident naturally raises a series of questions regarding the effectiveness of the current regulatory framework. The technical requirements for the design and operation of the main elements of gas transmission networks are determined in accordance with the current legislation. The current regulatory framework clearly regulates that the obligations to carry out periodic technical inspections lie with the users of the system. Gas distribution companies have no legal basis in an indisputable manner to make a decision to temporarily suspend gas supply to customers without a periodic technical inspection.
The Bulgarian Association “Natural Gas“ (BAPG) and the Bulgarian Gas Association have identified the existing gaps in the regulatory framework related to the control and technical support of gas installations. As a result, we have proposed specific changes, including last year, to clearly regulate the rights and obligations of the parties concerned - gas distribution companies, licensed technical supervision companies, state institutions and consumers, which we hope will be adopted by the responsible institutions.
As organizations strongly committed to promoting the safety and sustainability of the gas sector, we will continue to work actively to improve the regulatory framework and strengthen control over all aspects of the gas infrastructure. Our main priority remains ensuring the safety and public trust in natural gas as a secure and environmentally friendly energy source. Therefore, we call for seeking expertise in public speaking without circulating speculation and waiting for the investigative authorities to do their job and clarify all the facts and circumstances regarding the causes that led to this incident.
As a sectoral organization in the gas sector, BAPG and BGA express our readiness to provide full assistance to the competent authorities by providing expertise and technical resources, as deficits in this direction are clearly outlined. We believe that by joining forces between the institutions and the sector, the objective disclosure of the causes of the incident, which we believe go beyond the scope of natural gas, will be guaranteed, and therefore we appeal not to transfer unproven allegations to the gas sector.