Bulgaria's state-owned gas company Bulgargaz had not restored gas supplies to Kremikovtzi to the amount that the steel mill requires to operate at full capacity, the steelworks' spokesperson Maria Todorova told The Sofia Echo on August 26.

Bulgargaz was expected to do so by the end of the day on August 25, but negotiations between the two companies were still underway.

The amount of gas that would eventually be supplied is also a subject of the talks. Todorova did not specify a possible date for when negotiations could be concluded.

As previously reported by The Sofia Echo, Bulgargaz has cut its gas supplies to the steel mill earlier this year, claiming it was owed millions of leva in unpaid debts.

Bulgargaz supplies about 30 000 cub m a day to the steel mill, which is the minimum at which Kremikovtzi could operate. The ongoing negotiations are meant to secure the quantity Kremikovtzi needs to resume full operations.