Delyan Dobrev, former Energy Minister and MP of center-right party GERB, has insisted that it is time Bulgaria stopped “playing ostrich” as regards shale gas.

In an interview published in Pressa daily, Dobrev suggests that Bulgaria may be the only country in the world with a moratorium on shale gas drilling.

He argues that the only alternative to Russian gas is developing local gas fields.

“The Southern Gas Corridor has always been a priority to us. Unlike the South Stream gas pipeline, it will supply gas from a different source, namely the Caspian region. In this line of thought, it is much more important to us because it will give us an alternative and will ensure competition on the gas market,” Dobrev declares.

He dismisses claims that Bulgaria will import Russian gas from Turkey or Greece.

“Apart from the fact that it is economically unfeasible, the supply contract stipulates an entry point and it is on the Bulgaria-Romania border. By 2020 Bulgaria will really import gas via the gas grid interconnection with Greece,” he points out.

Bulgaria’s former Energy Minister reminds that Bulgaria has signed a 10-year gas supply contract with Russia, which is in effect since the beginning of 2014, and which may be extended by another 10 years at Bulgaria’s request.

He also notes that Bulgaria has signed a gas transit contract by 2030 under which Russia is to pay 90% of the transit fee for the pipeline capacity even if no gas flows through it.

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