site.bta PM Borissov Firmly Against Lifting Moratorium on Shale Gas Extraction

PM Borissov Firmly Against  Lifting Moratorium on Shale Gas Extraction 

Sofia, January 14 (BTA) - Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday,
Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said that his "categorical answer
regarding the lifting of the moratorium on shale gas is no." He
added, however, that this could be reviewed in the long run if a
 technology is proposed, which does not pose a risk to the
environment, in which case Bulgaria could take advantage of the
cheap gas. Borissov was adamant that no one can exert pressure
on him, because the position has been clearly stated.

Answering another question, Borissov said that there is not a
country in the EU, through which a natural gas pipeline passes
without complying with the Third Energy Package. He recalled
that it was negotiated in Brussels for the gas interconnector
with Greece to be financed 100 per cent by the EC. This will
allow Bulgaria to get cheap liquefied natural gas from Greece.
"We have huge opportunities to diversify our supplies," he went
on to say.

Borissov said that a high-level meeting could take place in
Bulgaria next month, which will focus on discussing the EU
Energy Union, the restoration of the Nabucco-West pipeline
project, which is among the EC's priorities. The Juncker Plan
could put in motion precisely such projects - "this is building,
 this is growth, this is diversification, this is a common
energy union and based on that - lowering the price of gas,"
Borissov said.