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From Bulgaria

06.03.2013 15:33

Transit Pipelines Should Be Treated Equally with Other Gas Infrastructure

A debate between EC's Jean-Arnold Vinois and Bulgartransgaz CEO Kiril Temelkov brought up discrepancies in the concept of gas market liberalization and competitiveness

AUTHOR: publics.bg

During the Black Sea Oil and Gas Forum, which takes place today, Jean-Arnold Vinois, Acting Director for Internal Energy Market at the European Commission, commented that Bulgarian transit gas pipelines infrastructure should be treated as “European gas infrastructure” according to the Third Energy Package. His comment was directed toward Mr Kiril Temelkov, the CEO of the Bulgarian gas transmission operator Bulgartransgaz EAD. According to Vinois, all gas infrastructure in Bulgaria should be subject to third-party access legislation, including the transit pipelines carrying Russian gas to Turkey, Greece, and Macedonia through the territory of Bulgaria.

During his presentation, Мr.Vinois pointed out, that currently the infrastructure for gas supplies from Russia to the EU is more than enough. There are capacities for imports amounting 200 bcm annually and the the Russian exports currently are about 110 bcm annually. According to Vinois, even some Russian experts do not see a reason for more infrastructure bringing Russian gas. After all, new infrastructure will be ultimately paid by European consumers, Vinois added, and what we need is real gas-to-gas competition.

Kiril Temelkov commented later, that Bulgartransgaz EAD is aware of the statute of so called “transit” pipelines and they will be subject to Third Energy Package requirements. By the end of the year Bulgartransgaz EAD we will connect the national transmission system to the transit pipelines, Temelkov added, and pointed out that the company is developing a lot of projects related to flexibility and diversification, including interconnectors to neighboring countries. Temelkov promised that Bulgartransgaz will do its best to apply all the requirements of the Third Energy Package until the end of this year.