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Sat, Feb 04 2012
Gazprom drives hard bargain for South Stream gas pipeline
Russian state-run gas giant Gazprom said on December 7 that it would not make any bargains on the South Stream gas pipeline project. The statement came just days before a meeting of the Bulgarian-Russian economic commission, which will discuss the two countries’ common energy projects.
Gazprom’s tone seems all the more surprising given that South Stream remains the least controversial joint project, compared with the construction of the Belene nuclear power plant or the Bourgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline.
The meeting in Sofia will be the commission's first after the meeting of prime ministers Vladimir Putin and Boiko Borissov in September.
"An opportunity like this comes once in a lifetime and we are convinced that common sense will prevail in Bulgaria about this project," Gazprom spokesperson Sergei Kupriyanov said. The project saw increased support in Europe and it was acquiring a pan-European dimension, he said.
"Bulgarians have not dropped the project, but they will need time to think. We are convinced that South Stream is not a project one can bargain on," Kupriyanov said.
The warning confirmed the statements of sources familiar with the situation, according to whom the Russian side wanted to dictate the decisions of the joint project company for South Stream. Bulgarian Energy Holding (BEH) and Gazprom will hold equal stakes in the company.
In addition, Bulgaria will insist on guarantees that the construction of South Stream will not hamper the existing gas transit network for Greece and Turkey.
If the transit process is affected or stopped, state-owned firm Bulgartransgaz will lose an estimated 100 million leva in transit fees, paid to it by Gazprom. In May, Gazprom agreed to built a fully separate gas grid in Bulgaria for South Stream and pay transit taxes in case it uses the existing grid.
However, according to Bulgarian experts, the issue of whether Bulgaria's state-owned gas company Bulgargaz will be able to sell gas from South Stream to consumers in the country is yet to be resolved.
Source: Dnevnik
Gazprom’s tone seems all the more surprising given that South Stream remains the least controversial joint project, compared with the construction of the Belene nuclear power plant or the Bourgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline.
The meeting in Sofia will be the commission's first after the meeting of prime ministers Vladimir Putin and Boiko Borissov in September.
"An opportunity like this comes once in a lifetime and we are convinced that common sense will prevail in Bulgaria about this project," Gazprom spokesperson Sergei Kupriyanov said. The project saw increased support in Europe and it was acquiring a pan-European dimension, he said.
"Bulgarians have not dropped the project, but they will need time to think. We are convinced that South Stream is not a project one can bargain on," Kupriyanov said.
The warning confirmed the statements of sources familiar with the situation, according to whom the Russian side wanted to dictate the decisions of the joint project company for South Stream. Bulgarian Energy Holding (BEH) and Gazprom will hold equal stakes in the company.
In addition, Bulgaria will insist on guarantees that the construction of South Stream will not hamper the existing gas transit network for Greece and Turkey.
If the transit process is affected or stopped, state-owned firm Bulgartransgaz will lose an estimated 100 million leva in transit fees, paid to it by Gazprom. In May, Gazprom agreed to built a fully separate gas grid in Bulgaria for South Stream and pay transit taxes in case it uses the existing grid.
However, according to Bulgarian experts, the issue of whether Bulgaria's state-owned gas company Bulgargaz will be able to sell gas from South Stream to consumers in the country is yet to be resolved.
Source: Dnevnik
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Appointments
British Council
Lyubov Kostova was appointed country manager of British Council Bulgaria effective January 1, replacing Tony Buckby, who left in October 2011 to take a similar position at British Council Greece. Kostova has been with British Council Bulgaria for 11 years, as public communications manager and, since 2008, as the head of project and partnerships department. Prior to joining the British Council, Kostova was head of international activities at the National Academy for Theatre and Cinema Arts (NATFIZ). She has a degree in Indian studies from Kliment Ohridski Sofia University.
CEZ
Stefan Apostolov is the new chief executive of CEZ Razpredelenie Bulgaria, the power transmission subsidiary of Czech energy company CEZ in the country. He replaces interim chief executive Ales Damm, who remains the chairperson of the CEZ Razpredelenie management board. Apostolov has 30 years of experience in the energy sector, joining CEZ in 2007 as director of customer service and was later appointed as head of business development. Apostolov has a master's degree in electric systems from the Belorussian National Technical University in Minsc, management diplomas from Open University London and New Bulgarian University, as well as a master's degree in business administration from Plovdiv University.
Rompetrol Bulgaria
Alexander Albin has been appointed chief executive of fuel distributor Rompetrol Bulgaria, replacing Nichita Sorin, who left to become chief executive of Rompetrol Gaz in Romania. Albin was previously chief executive of Rompetrol Georgia. He has more than 15 years of experience in the oil and gas industry; prior to joining Romania's oil group Rompetrol in 2008 as an adviser, he oversaw operations at Atyrau refinery in Kazakhstan, owned by Rompetrol's parent company KazMunaiGaz. He previously held top management positions at two other leading Kazakh oil and gas companies.
BASF Bulgaria
Valentina Dikanska is the new general manager of chemical industry giant BASF subsidiary in Bulgaria, taking over from Herbert Fisch, BASF vice president for Southeastern Europe. Dikanska, who started her career as an expert in the Finance Ministry, joined BASF Bulgaria as director of finance and administration in 2002. She becomes the first Bulgarian to hold the top management position in the company in its 40-year history on the Bulgarian market. Dikanska holds a master's degree in economics from the University for National and World Economy in Sofia.
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