Russia Will Ask Bulgaria to Cover Cost of Scrapped BA Pipe

Energy | December 26, 2011, Monday // 17:09|  views

Russian Energy Minister Sergey Shmatko (R) during an earlier meeting with Bulgarian counterpart Traicho Traikov (L). Photo by BGNES

Russia will take all legal measures available to make Bulgaria pay indemnities over the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline project, said Russian Energy Minister Sergey Shmatko.

Earlier in December, the Bulgarian government said it will leave the project, which involved building a pipeline through Bulgaria and Greece to transport Russian oil from the Black Sea to the Aegean, bypassing the Bosphorus.

"We will make a full legal assessment of Bulgaria's actions," said Russian Minister of Energy Shmatko, as quoted by RIA Novosti.

"We will calculate the expenses made by companies in the project. Without all doubt, given procedures at hand, those costs will be claimed from the Bulgarian party," clarified Shmatko.

The Bulgarian government announced it is quitting Burgas-Alexandroupolis as not economically efficient, after months of sending negative signals as to its commitment to the project.

All the same, Monday Russian Energy Minister Shmatko reiterated his position that the project as negotiated was in the best interests of all parties involved - Bulgaria, Greece and Russia.

Bulgaria's Finance Minister Simeon Djankov has expressed confidence that the withdrawal will not force the country to pay anything more than its EUR 6 M outstanding dues on the project.

Just Sunday, Bulgarian Economy and Energy Minister Traicho Traikov said he felt Bulgaria's quitting of Burgas-Alexandroupolis has not harmed Bulgarian-Russian energy relations.

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Tags: Burgas-Alexandropolis, oil, pipeline, Sergey Shmatko, Simeon Djankov, Traicho Traikov, greece, Black Sea, Russia, Russian

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