A plan to construct the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline, revived by Bulgarian President Rumen Radev has been backed by Russian oil firm Lukoil following discussions on the partnership council between the Lukoil oil refinery and the native authorities in Burgas.
Sofia deserted the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline in 2011, however the worldwide mission firm Trans Balkan Pipeline B.V. continues to exist.
“The realisation of the oil mission by the state or by a public-private partnership is a choice that will contribute to enhancing logistics by avoiding the problematic straits (in Turkey),” commented the corporate, quoted by the state information company BTA.
Lukoil claims the mission might assist exchange the Russian oil it presently imports by tanker via the port of Rosenets. Bulgaria has the correct to make use of Russian oil till the top of 2024.
The Burgas-Alexandroupolis mission was a part of the so-called “grand slam” of Russian vitality tasks in Bulgaria, which additionally included the brand new Belene nuclear energy plant, and the South Stream gasoline pipeline.
Bulgaria agreed to implement these tasks 16 years in the past throughout the presidency of Georgi Parvanov. The gasoline pipeline was constructed, however as a continuation of the “Turkish Stream”.
The Belene NPP will in all probability by no means be constructed, however the reactors have been delivered and there have lengthy been talks of utilizing them for a brand new nuclear unit on the Kozloduy NPP.
Bulgaria desires to import oil via the potential new pipeline from the Mediterranean Sea. The earlier concept was for Russian oil to achieve the Greek port via Bulgaria.
On the finish of November this yr, Radev introduced throughout the “Black Sea: Close to East” convention that the resumption of the Burgas-Alexandroupolis mission must be thought of.
Lukoil Neftohim Burgas introduced that this mission might develop right into a “Black Sea” oil hub, which can enhance Bulgaria’s function within the area’s vitality safety
The caretaker authorities is presently lobbying the European Fee in order that Lukoil can proceed exporting Russian-produced petroleum merchandise from Bulgaria.
Till the top of 2024, Bulgaria will stay exempt from the EU’s embargo that presently bans Russian crude oil imports by sea.
(Krassen Nikolov | EURACTIV.bg)
