She
She – Teodora Georgieva, and he – Delyan Peevski, but the question is WHO! And we became famous again for becoming the first. This became a fact after the Bulgarian European Prosecutor Teodora Georgieva announced that she was being investigated by her colleagues in Luxembourg because she had recused herself from the investigation into the Chiren gas storage case, as she had been threatened. This is the first time that the European Prosecutor's Office is investigating its own employee. Yes, we are the first. But not with good news and not with a job done, but with a check on unfinished business.
As an argument for her action, Georgieva says that she is recusing herself from the “Chiren“ case because she felt threatened due to threats received in connection with the indictment of the former Minister of Energy and current head of “Bulgartransgaz” in this investigation.
Georgieva does not comment on names, but it is about Vladimir Malinov. There is currently an investigation, and he has not appeared for the indictment in the gas storage case because he is in hospital.
“In connection with the threats made against me, I would like to clarify that I have recused myself from the investigation into Chiren because I feel threatened by Mr. Peevski, who is being accused by the dismissed subcontractors as someone who is putting pressure on them to increase the profit margin of the contractor company and to implement the project at an unaffordable price for them,“ says Prosecutor Georgieva.
He
An immediate response follows. “Teodora Georgieva is Kiril Petkov's personal contract prosecutor. I will give her to the prosecutor's office for questioning and she will bear the consequences for her lies, said the leader of “DPS-New Beginning“ Delyan Peevski. - I have nothing to do with her case. Georgieva is an accomplice of Petyo Euroto. It was clear in what a criminal way she became a European prosecutor."
She
Georgieva claims that she received threats and warnings that if she brought charges against the Minister of Energy, recordings and compromising material would be released in the media.
Kövesi
On Wednesday evening, the office of the European Chief Prosecutor Laura Kövesi announced the launch of an unprecedented administrative investigation into possible violations committed by the Bulgarian European Prosecutor Teodora Georgieva. So far, a procedure for checking a member of the European Prosecutor's Office has not been activated for any of the other representatives in the institution. Each of the 24 members of the European Public Prosecutor's Office has a representative on its board, which works from the central office in Luxembourg.
Who
Just a week ago, the Sofia City Prosecutor's Office also ordered an investigation into Teodora Georgieva for possible links to Petyo Euro. It all started with an anonymous email that was sent to the media with a clip showing the shady lobbyist having conversations (probably in "The Eight Dwarfs") with a woman whose face is not visible, but he says: “Teddy is here…“ A second clip followed.
And here many questions arise:
- who released the recording
- who made the recording
- who sent it to the media
- who told them to send it to the media
- who wanted them to send it to the media
- who…
What is the “Chiren“ case?
We recall that the European Public Prosecutor's Office conducted a search of the offices of “Bulgartransgaz“ in connection with the project to expand the gas storage facility in Chiren in the summer of last year. This was announced at a briefing by the company's director at the time, Kiril Ravnachki. A report was filed about the “Chiren“ case, which we published in FACTS. It generally concerns the fact that “ There are serious dangers looming over the UGS"Chiren", for its technological compromise due to the unprofessional and dubious actions of the management of "Bulgartransgaz" EAD".
The main volume of activities is related to the drilling of 10 (ten) operational inclined-directional wells and 3 observation (vertical) wells for a period of 600 calendar days. After a tender was held and the refusal of the winning tender DZZD "Chiren Drilling 2022", Kozloduy, to sign the relevant contract, DZZD "Exzalo Drilling Chiren", Sofia, was appointed as the contractor of the OP, with participants "Glavbolgarstroy" AD, "Glavbolgarstroy International" AD and "Gas Project Development" Ltd., at a price of 221,221,200 leva excluding VAT.
It is important to note that both participants in the procedure do not have expertise in organizing and executing oil and natural gas drilling, especially under the existing conditions in the "Chiren" UGS. Given this, they declare as subcontractors experienced foreign drilling companies with national and international experience.
During the OP competition and after its award, however, "Exalo Drilling Chiren" repeatedly changed the drilling subcontractor to companies with questionable professional experience in drilling inclined-directional wells in conditions of reservoir pressure deficit, as is the case with the "Chiren" UGS.
On 06.04.2023, "Bulgartransgaz" EAD (contractor) and DZZD "UGS Drilling Chiren" (Contractor) signed Contract No. 6004 for the implementation of the OP "Development planning, development of an investment project, supply of the necessary materials and equipment, construction and commissioning of all stages of the site: Expansion of the capacity of the Chiren UGS." drilling fund"
Regardless of the requirements of the technical conditions under the OP, the Contractor is taking targeted actions to change the conditions for the implementation of the OP and, more specifically, to replace the planned 10 inclined-directional drillings with 10 vertical drillings, despite the proven ineffectiveness of the proposed approach.
For the Contractor, the economic effect of the proposed change in the type of drillings is lower drilling costs in the amount of 80-90 million BGN (the cost of an inclined-directional drilling is about 40% higher than that of a vertical drilling).
For the Contracting Authority, there is no positive economic effect, but severe technical and economic consequences, including compromising the Chiren UGS. The prepared report on the proposed replacement is the subject of an internal audit at Bulgartransgaz, commissioned by the company's CEO. The conclusions of the same are scandalous and should be the subject of a prosecutorial investigation due to the complete inaction (or tacit cooperation) of the management of "Bulgartransgaz" EAD to the actions of the Contractor. Instead of taking appropriate actions to protect the interests of the Client, the company's management is attempting to discredit its experts working on the project, including the internal auditor.
In summary, the technical and economic effect of the proposed fundamental changes in the conceptual project for the expansion of the "Chiren" UGS allows the Contractor to:
- overcome the lack of experience and expertise in drilling inclined-directional wells
- illegally receive about 100 million leva
The Contracting Authority remains responsible for all costs, risks and serious technical and economic problems related to the future operation of the UGS "Chiren" and certainly its compromise.
In view of the above, the experts of the Bulgarian Energy and Mining Forum (BEMF) reasonably assume the presence of corrupt practices in the public procurement in question, the implementation of which by the selected organization also poses serious risks for the country's energy security.
And as always - it is a lot of money.