Bulgarian Minister of Economy and Energy Traicho Traikov. Photo by BGNES.
Bulgaria will ask the European Commission for a derogation, so that a substantial part of the South Stream pipe be used only by shareholders, confirmed energy minister Traicho Traikov Tuesday.
After Saturday Bulgarian PM Borisov and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin signed in Sofia two documents for setting up a joint venture for the construction of the Bulgarian section of South Stream, an EU spokesperson announced Monday that the EC wants Bulgaria to make sure third-party companies are given access to the South Stream pipeline.
Tuesday Minister Traikov confirmed earlier information that Bulgaria will request a derogation from the EU principle which requires a strong liberalization of access to infrastructure.
According to Traikov, Bulgaria will request that 50-70% of the South Stream pipe be accessible only to the joint venture shareholders, while the rest be liberalized.
"In that, South Stream will be not different from Nabucco, in which a part of the infrasturcture will be reserved to shareholders only," stated the Bulgarian Minister of Economy and Energy.
Traikov was confident that this adjustment will be completely feasible and in no way will hamper the execution of the project.