Economy Minister Roumen Ovcharov will discuss today with representatives of major businesses long-term relations with the Russian Gazprom. A week ago, national gas supplier Bulgargaz rejected negotiations for the change in the contract conditions for the transit supply of Russian gas to Bulgaria. The contract is valid until 2010. Price increases would affect Bulgaria’s national interest, as well as the business interests of major companies, Ovcharov said. Negotiations with a company such as Gazprom will be difficult to carry out, the minister said.
At the end of last week Russian media reported that Bulgaria was among the countries with which Gazprom will negotiate new supply agreements. All countries receiving Russian gas will have to accept market prices for natural gas, based on the demanded quantity and the location of the country. During the weekend, Bulgargaz and Gazprom representatives said they were not currently involved in any negotiation processes, Dnevnik newspaper reported.