site.btaOpportunities for Delivery of Cypriot Natural Gas to Bulgaria Discussed at Bilateral Meeting

Opportunities for Delivery of Cypriot Natural Gas to Bulgaria Discussed at Bilateral Meeting

Nicosia/Sofia, September 26 (BTA) - The Bulgarian Energy Ministry said Bulgarian Energy Minister Temenouzhka Petkova and Cypriot Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism Georgios Lakkotrypis have discussed the opportunities for the delivery of Cypriot natural gas to Bulgaria.

"Within the framework of the European Energy Union, Bulgaria and Cyprus share common goals and follow the same set of principles. I think that based on the effective [since February] memorandum signed by the two countries, we will develop cooperation in one of the strategic sectors - energy," a statement quoted Petkova as saying at a meeting with Lakkotrypis that preceded a sitting of a working group on energy policy.

Petkova acquainted the Cypriot minister with the development of projects in Bulgaria for the diversification of gas sources and delivery routes - the Balkan gas hub, the Greece-Bulgaria gas interconnector and the plans of the Bulgarian government to participate in the project for a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal at Alexandroupolis. She noted that Cypriot natural gas is one of the supply options for the gas hub.

Lakkotrypis said after the meeting that Bulgaria is one of the countries included in his country's plans for the construction of a gas delivery corridor linking the Mediterranean and Europe.

The Aphrodite gas field off the southern coast of Cyprus is one of the biggest gas discoveries in recent years.

There are plans to deliver gas to Bulgaria either through the interconnector with Greece or through the LNG terminal in Alexandroupolis, Lakkotrypis said, adding his government is well aware of Bulgaria's plans to establish itself as a gas distribution centre. The Cypriot minister said he was interested in getting acquainted in further detail with the gas hub concept of the Bulgarian government.