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Sat, Feb 11 2012
Purvanov's plea for Russian energy projects
Photo: Krassimir Yuskesseliev
Bulgarian President Georgi Purvanov said on July 31 that Bulgaria's new Cabinet should not turn its back on joint energy projects with Russia. Purvanov signed three major deals with Russian then-president Vladimir Putin in Sofia in January 2008: Belene nuclear power plant, South Stream gas pipeline and Bourgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline.
"I think it is important that when this Cabinet drafts a new energy strategy, there is an element of continuity and not just calculations of what will be done during the current term," Purvanov said during a trip to Veliko Turnovo, as quoted by Focus news agency.
"The big energy projects are an investment in the energy security of the country in the long term. If we wish to be the energy centre of the Balkans, as is our intention, we must be very careful what we do," he said.
All three projects have been criticised by centre-right opposition as much too expensive and further deepening Bulgaria's reliance on Russian energy sources.
Purvanov rejected the criticism: "I do not accept that big projects should be halted because they cost too much and that they should be given to private investors. The global experience shows that it is the state that must build up the energy sector."
The new cabinet, which took office on July 27, said that it would review all major energy deals, including the Belene power plant with Russia's Atomstroyexport, the South Stream with gas Giant Gazprom and the Bourgas-Alexandroupolis, in which a consortium of three Russian firms has the majority stake.
But where the Cabinet has been cautious so far not to outright dismiss the feasibility of the projects, provided they did not require state guarantees, the new chairperson of Parliament's economic policy committee, Martin Dimitrov, said on July 30 that after taking a look at the contractual clauses, the Cabinet should consider breaking the deals.
Dimitrov is co-chairperson of the Blue Coalition, the centre-right coalition that campaigned on the promise to block what Purvanov called "a grand slam" of energy deals with Russia.
"I think it is important that when this Cabinet drafts a new energy strategy, there is an element of continuity and not just calculations of what will be done during the current term," Purvanov said during a trip to Veliko Turnovo, as quoted by Focus news agency.
"The big energy projects are an investment in the energy security of the country in the long term. If we wish to be the energy centre of the Balkans, as is our intention, we must be very careful what we do," he said.
All three projects have been criticised by centre-right opposition as much too expensive and further deepening Bulgaria's reliance on Russian energy sources.
Purvanov rejected the criticism: "I do not accept that big projects should be halted because they cost too much and that they should be given to private investors. The global experience shows that it is the state that must build up the energy sector."
The new cabinet, which took office on July 27, said that it would review all major energy deals, including the Belene power plant with Russia's Atomstroyexport, the South Stream with gas Giant Gazprom and the Bourgas-Alexandroupolis, in which a consortium of three Russian firms has the majority stake.
But where the Cabinet has been cautious so far not to outright dismiss the feasibility of the projects, provided they did not require state guarantees, the new chairperson of Parliament's economic policy committee, Martin Dimitrov, said on July 30 that after taking a look at the contractual clauses, the Cabinet should consider breaking the deals.
Dimitrov is co-chairperson of the Blue Coalition, the centre-right coalition that campaigned on the promise to block what Purvanov called "a grand slam" of energy deals with Russia.
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All due respect Kiril, but the Ukrainians were stealing the transit gas.
The Russians had to stop it to make a point.
Any other country in that position would've done the same.
Bulgaria would be foolish to put all their eggs in one basket as everyone has already learned when they dealt with the Russians. Everyone is talking about diversifying energy sources and part of that strategy should not be relying on these 3 major projects with Russia for all Bulgarian needs. Looked what happened in the past when Bulgaria relied on Russia to be it's one main friend--when Russia gets fickle, changes their mind--it's Bulgaria that gets left out and catches a cold.
"All three projects have been criticised by centre-right opposition as much too expensive and further deepening Bulgaria's reliance on Russian energy sources."
By whom?
Last time I check, we are well advised not to rely on Ukrainian transition rather than on Russian supply.
The Socialists did some smart things, like those deals.
Now we'll probably scrap them to please the EU and they will release the funds they've been withholding, as punishment under the pretext of corruption...