Russian Delegation Comes to Sofia over Energy Projects Sept 17

Sergei Kiriyenko (left) is going to visit Bulgaria for energy projects talks, together with Russian Energy Minister Shmatko. Photo by EPA/BGNES

A high-ranking Russian delegation is going to arrive in Sofia for discussions of the three large-scale joint Bulgarian-Russian energy projects.

The delegation will include Energy Minister, Sergey Shmatko, and the head of the state-owned nuclear energy corporation Rossatom, Sergei Kiriyenko, the Bulgarian National Television reported.

They will discuss with the Bulgarian government the future of the South Stream gas transit pipeline, the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline, and the Belene Nuclear Power Plant.

Earlier on Friday, Shmatko, who is also a former head of the Atomstroyexport company that is supposed to build the Belene plant, said Bulgaria and Russia never had any secret agreements about the energy projects - something that contradicts statements by former Bulgarian Ministers of the Stanishev government claiming that the Russian side had insisted on keeping certain provisions of the bilateral projects secret.

It is still unclear whether the Russian officials will meet with the Bulgarian Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov.