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Bulgargaz EAD has received a notification that the supplies of natural gas from Gazprom Export will be suspended as of April 27, 2022. This was announced by the Ministry of Energy.
The Bulgarian side has fully fulfilled its obligations and has made all payments required under this agreement, in a timely manner, strictly and in accordance with its clauses, the ministry said.
After an analysis by the state company Bulgargaz and the Bulgarian Energy Holding (BEH), it was found that the new two-stage payment procedure proposed by Russia is not in line with the existing contract by the end of this year, the statement said. It also poses significant risks to Bulgaria, including making payments without receiving any gas supplies from Russia, it said.
The Ministry of Energy, the Bulgarian Energy Holding, Bulgargaz and Bulgartransgaz have taken steps to find alternative arrangements for the supply of natural gas and to deal with the situation. At present, no restrictive measures are required for consumption in Bulgaria.
Energy Minister Alexander Nikolov is expected to make a statement on Wednesday.
Earlier authorities in Poland confirmedthat Russia will suspend gas supplies to the country from Wednesday.
Russia seems to be fulfilling its threat to cut off supplies to countries that refuse the Kremlin’s request to pay in rubles. According to Brussels, this would be a violation of sanctions against Russia and would give an advantage to the country’s authorities. Poland is one of the countries that is particularly vocal in its criticism of Moscow and also refuses to comply with the demand for payment in Russian currency.
Poland’s main gas supplier, PGNiG, said it had been informed that all supplies had been suspended since Wednesday. Minutes earlier, Russian gas giant Gazprom issued a warning that Poland must pay for its supplies – on Tuesday and in Russian currency.
In the middle of the month, the Bulgarian Gas Association (BGA) sent an open letter to the chairmen of parliamentary groups in the 47th National Assembly, urges Bulgaria to accept Gazprom terms and pay for natural gas in rubles, because our country has no other alternative.
By order of Russian President Vladimir Putin, “hostile countries” such as members of the European Union must pay for natural gas in rubles from April 1.
After the community flatly refused to comply with this request, Russia proposed a scheme in which European customers continue to pay in the currency stipulated in the agreements with Gazprom. The money will be transferred to special accounts in Gazprombank and will be converted into rubles, after which it will be transferred to the gas company.
From the words of the Minister of Energy Alexander Nikolov at the end of March it became clear that Bulgaria has paid for gas for April. The ministry also has a scheme for payments in rubles, but our country remains in the EU’s position regarding gas payments.
BGA points out in its position that Bulgaria is not connected to the European gas system, there is no diversification of incoming gas flows and no liquefied gas terminals, and there is a moratorium on natural gas production. According to the organization, our country is the most dependent on Russian natural gas in the EU.
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