site.btaEnergy Minister Hristov in Baku: Investments in Gas Infrastructure Are Investments in Green Future

"Challenges to energy need complex and transborder solutions between governments, institutions and the private sector," said Energy Minister Rosen Hristov in his address during the Ninth Ministerial of the Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council in Baku. According to him, this is the only way to solve urgent issues to ensure the security and stability of energy sources, said the Energy Ministry on Friday. 

"Bulgaria is working actively with the neighbouring countries to achieve stability and diversification of gas supplies," said Minister Hristov. In this respect he noted the efforts of the Bulgarian caretaker government for the prompt commissioning of the gas interconnector with Greece, the launch of construction of a new gas interconnection with Serbia and an agreement with the Turkish public company Botas for using Turkiye's LNG terminals. "These projects are of use not only for Bulgaria, but for gas supplies in the entire region," added Hristov. He recalled that Bulgaria has submitted a project to the European Commission, Solidarity ring (STRING), for an upgrade of the existing infrastructure of Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Slovakia to double gas supplies from Azerbaijan and LNG from Greece and Turkiye to Southeastern and Central Europe. 

"We have a clear benchmark for decarbonization in 2030-2050. We know what our goals are and how to achieve them, but this should happen gradually. This is why gas such as a transition fuel should be prioritized together with nuclear energy compared with energy from fossil fuels," added Hristov. In his words, technologies for the building of gas transmission network allow in the future to be modified  for the transmission of green hydrogen. "All projects linked with LNG terminals in which Bulgaria participated and we develop with Greece, all improvements in the gas infrastructure and the construction of new gas pipelines are an investment in our green future and the stability of the whole region. Energy security also means national and regional security," said the Energy Minister. 

The forum in Baku was unveiled by Azeri President Ilham Aliyev and EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson.