BULGARIA WANT SOUTH STREAM

The Bulgarian Government reportedly launched a €33,000 tender for the offshore section of the South Stream project, in order to better understand some financial implications of the project.

According to Novite, the Regional Development Ministry wants the winner of the tender to come up with a methodology to define the easement compensation for the Pasha Dere beach near Varna, and an appraisal of the building lease for the seabed.

Interested companies are called to submit their bids by April 9, 2015.

In December 2014, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that the South Stream project had been cancelled, blaming Bulgaria for its alleged delays in granting permission for the pipeline. Putin then suggested Sofia to ask for compensation from Brussels.

Over the last weeks, the Bulgarian Government increasingly paid attention to energy issues. It welcomed the High Level Working Group and the related "regional approach" to gas projects, while spearheading a revival of the South Stream pipeline.

On Tuesday, Bulgaria's Prime Minister Boyko Borissov met with Germany's Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier. The parts also discussed energy projects in the region.

naturalgaseurope.com