The ironclad guarantees demanded by Russian President Vladimir Putin from the EU for the delivery of Russian gas along the bottom of the Black Sea for the Balkan gas hub will not be given soon.

These will depend on the pre-project survey of the regional gas distribution centre near Varna. This is the opinion of the Spokesperson for Specific Energy Union Projects of the European Commission Jakub Adamowicz. He commented on Wednesday that the links between the gas network of Bulgaria and that of Europe and the modernised infrastructure are more important than single projects for the construction of pipelines.

Brussels is ready to finance in half the pre-project survey for the Balkan gas hub, which is expected to be announced at the beginning of next year. Before that, however, an analysis must be prepared of possible sources and routes for the delivery of gas to this centre, its liquidity and profitability. A public procurement order has been announced for the preparation of the document and offers may be submitted as of October 5, 2016. It is on the basis of this public procurement order that the EC expects Bulgartransgaz to request co-financing for the pre-project survey for the hub.