site.btaGas Main to Greece: Accident near Kulata Border Checkpoint

July 27 (BTA) - An accident involving the gas main to
Greece occurred at 07:56 am on Monday, gas operator
Bulgartransgaz reported. The accident caused  structural damage
to the pipeline 200 meters away from the stopcock near the
Koulata border crossing.

The accident caused no casualties or gas leakage, the Regional 
Directorate of the Interior in Blagoevgrad (Southwestern
Bulgaria) told BTA.

The damaged section of the gas main has been isolated and the
necessary steps are being taken to repair the pipe and resume
the transmission of gas to Greece, Bulgartransgaz pointed out.

During a briefing at the Council of Ministers, Prime Minister
Boyko Borissov said that the State Agency for National Security
is looking into two possible causes for the accident, but his
personal opinion was that the pipes were just too old. He
assured that the repair works are in progress, and gas
transmission to Greece will resume by the end of the day.
Borissov also said that the construction of Balkan Stream and
the Greece-Bulgaria gas interconnector is in full swing.

Later on Monday, Environment and Water Minister Emil Dimitrov
visited the area of the accident with the gas main, his Ministry
 reported. He said there was no air pollution and environmental
damage as a result of the accident.

The prosecuting magistracy said later on Monday that an
investigation has been launched into the accident. RI, NV/MT,
DS, MY