Former Acting Minister of Energy Rosen Hristov commented on the show "Denyat ON AIR" that it is possible that the contract with "Botas" can be renegotiated, even though there is no such clause.
"All the noise around the contract is throwing sand in people's eyes, a smokescreen to cover up the real problems. The fact that penalties are owed means that the contract is not being used. There is a way to use it. It was created to deliver liquefied gas by tankers. Turkey was the only country that could provide it," Hristov told Bulgaria ON AIR.
He explained that the contract is not being used because "Bulgargaz" is losing market share and is in a difficult financial situation.
"The big problem is "Toplofikatsiya Sofia". It owes "Bulgargaz" over 1 billion leva and continues to draw gas. The other half are the remaining customers, who are progressively going to private traders, who import much cheaper gas from Russia through Greece. "Bulgargaz" is prohibited from importing Russian gas, it is obliged to work with liquefied gas. This way it is more expensive. Customers are looking for the cheapest and are going to private traders. "Bulgargaz" has about 50% market share. Very soon it will have to pay penalties under the contract with Azerbaijan," predicts the former acting Minister of Energy.
According to him, politicians in Europe officially state that they cannot do without Russian gas.
"In Bulgaria, we are beating our chests and all parties say that we have given up on Russian gas, but we allow private traders to do it. If we import non-Russian gas, the price is higher. No one can beat Russian gas. Since Russian gas is not included in any sanctions, it means that Europe cannot do without it," Hristov emphasized.
According to him, we use 1/4 or 1/3 of the contract with "Botas". "The parliament, instead of engaging in legislative activity, does not hold any hearings on these laws, and every day there are hearings on "Botas" and committees. There is no longer an opposition in the National Assembly (NA). Everyone got mixed up and is governing with the aim of holding power," Hristov said.
He specified that energy companies always look at stability and the long term and the contract with "Botas" was signed according to the set parameters - to search for non-Russian gas, but "the reality is completely different".