Russia 'Respects' Bulgaria's Stand on Burgas-Alexandroupolis

Business » ENERGY | October 25, 2010, Monday // 13:06
Russia 'Respects' Bulgaria's Stand on Burgas-Alexandroupolis: Russia 'Respects' Bulgaria's Stand on Burgas-Alexandroupolis Russian Energy Minister, Sergey Shmatko, voices understanding of the desire of the Bulgarian government to have a more detailed and precise environmental assessment for the planned Burgas-Alexadroupolis oil line. Photo by BGNES

Russia fully respects the position of the Bulgarian cabinet regarding the oil line Burgas-Alexadroupolis, Russian Energy Minister, Sergey Shmatko, stated Monday.

Shmatko was referring to the desire of the Bulgarian government to have a more detailed and precise environmental assessment.

The Russian Energy Minister reported the news that Moscow and Athens would issue a joint stand on the pipeline by the end of the year.

"We agreed to establish a working group to discuss our countries' joint position on Burgas-Alexadroupolis," Shmatko is quoted saying.
Bulgaria, Greece and Russia agreed to build the pipeline between Burgas and Alexandroupolis, taking Caspian oil to the Mediterranean skirting the congested Bosphorus, in 2007 after more than a decade of intermittent talks.

The agreement for the company which will construct the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil transit pipeline was signed by Bulgaria during Russian President Putin's visit to Bulgaria in 2008.

The 280-kilometer pipeline, with 166 kilometers passing through Bulgaria, would have an initial annual capacity of 35 million tons, which could be later expanded to 50 million tons. Its costs are estimated at up to USD 1.5 B, up from initial estimates at USD 900 M.

The Trans-Balkan Pipeline company, which is in charge of the construction and subsequent operation of the future pipeline, and is headquartered in the Netherlands, was set up in 2008.

The Russian participant in the project, Pipeline Consortium Burgas-Alexandroupolis Ltd, has a share of 51%. It was founded jointly by three companies: AK Transneft (33.34%), NK Rosneft (33.33%), and Gazrpom Neft (33.33%).

The Bulgarian Joint stock company "Project Company Oil Pipeline Burgas-Alexandroupolis – BG" AD has a share of 24.5%. It was initially founded as jointly by two state companies, Bulgargaz (50%) and Technoexportstroy (50%) but was transferred in full to the Finance Ministry in February 2010.

The Greek participants are Helpe Thraki AE with 23.5% and the Greek government with 1%. The Helpe-Thraki AE was founded jointly by "Hellenic Petroleum" (25%) and "Thraki" (75%).

On July 16, 2010, the Bulgarian government completed the restructuring of its Project Company Oil Pipeline Burgas-Alexadroupolis – BG" AD, which sealed the transfer of the company under the responsibility of the Finance Minister.

Construction of the pipeline has been on ice even after Bulgaria's government balked at the potential environmental damage that the pipeline could inflict on its resort-dotted coastline. The cabinet has stated that its final decision on the country's participation in the project will depend on its upcoming international environmental assessment.

During the summer, Bulgaria's Prime Minister Boyko Borisov unexpectedly said that the country was "giving up" on Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline project.

In a dramatic twist that left all of Europe confused, Borisov retracted his statements shortly afterwards, saying that the Bulgarian government hasn't made a final decision regarding the construction of the pipeline.

After it took office in July 2009, Bulgaria's new center-right government of the GERB party made it clear it was going to reconsider the country's participation in the three large-scale energy projects - South Stream gas pipeline, Burgas-Alexadroupolis oil pipeline, and Belene Nuclear Power Plant.

Three Bulgarian Black Sea municipalities - Burgas, Pomorie, and Sozopol - have voted against the pipe in local referendums over environmental concerns.

Municipalities neighboring Pomorie and nearby Burgas are also harboring fears that the pipeline could damage their lucrative tourism business, while environmental NGOs have branded the existing plans to build an oil terminal out at sea a disaster waiting to happen.

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Tags: Burgas-Alexandroupolis, oil pipeline, Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline, Vladislav Emelyanov, TBB, Trans-Balkan Pipeline, Russia, greece, Boyko Borisov, GERB, Sergey Shmatko

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