site.btaMinister Malinov at Istanbul Energy Forum: Connectivity between Energy Producers and Consumers Will Ensure Security in Region

During the ministerial session of the first Istanbul Energy Forum, Bulgarian caretaker Energy Minister Vladimir Malinov told his colleagues that energy is the backbone of every economy and is the foundation of the security of countries. The strengthening of the strategic partnership at the regional level will provide better coordination and common solutions and answers to address the challenges in the energy sector, he said, adding that investments and better connectivity between the producing regions and the consuming regions of natural gas and green energy will ensure energy security. 

The event is organized by the Anadolu Agency and the Turkish Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources. Participants included Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkish the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar,  Azerbaijani Minister of Energy Parviz Shahbazov, Lybian Minister of Oil and Natural Gas of Libya  Khalifa Abdulsadek, Georgian First Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Levan Davitashvili, Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto , Serbian Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Dedovic Handanovic, Uzbekistani Minister of Energy Jurabek Mirzamahmudov, Moldovan Minister of Energy Victor Parlicov.

Minister Malinov recalled that during COP29 Bulgaria proposed an informal document to promote dialogues on energy connectivity. Improving the connectivity of electricity transmission in the South-North corridor and integrating renewable energy into the system will also ensure more affordable energy for consumers in the region, he said.

The Bulgarian Minister of Energy organized a quadrilateral meeting to discuss his new initiative for a separate energy corridor between Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkiye and Bulgaria for the transmission of green energy. During the meeting, Minister Vladimir Malinov and his colleagues, Bayraktar, Shahbazov and Davitashvili, were adamant that the joint activities of the countries will guarantee energy security and affordable prices for consumers in the region. During a bilateral meeting, Hungarian Foreign Minister Szijjarto expressed the Hungarian side's support for Bulgaria's accession to the intergovernmental agreement  on the Green Corridor, as well as readiness to join Minister Malinov's initiative for a second corridor.

Within the framework of the forum, Minister Malinov held a bilateral meeting with the Turkish Minister of Energy Bayraktar. The two discussed the development of bilateral energy relations between the countries in all areas of mutual interest as a basis for energy security in the region. The main emphasis of the conversation was the increase in electricity and gas connectivity between the two countries. Malinov again raised the issue of renegotiating the agreement between the companies Bulgargaz and BOTAS. They agreed that expert talks between the companies continue in a constructive spirit.