World's Energy

//The President advised we'd better sign South Stream before general elections
04-26-2009 - Bulgaria Standart - Bulgaria's President, Georgi Parvanov warned Gazprom not to mess with Bulgaria's domestic affairs. The President's sharp reaction was provoked by the statement of Stanislav Tsygankov, Gazprom Head of International Business who said that the Russian company would sign contracts directly with consumers such as Overgaz and not via Bulgargaz. "If Gazprom has reasons to avoid working with Bulgargaz, let it voice them openly," Parvanov appealed. He pointed out he was in contact with Russia's Government and if it had certain pretensions, they would be discussed but he would not comment on the desires of any firm. "The South Stream pipeline construction contract should be signed as soon as possible," the President also said. It would be best if this happened within the term of the incumbent Cabinet, he added. President Parvanov also said that while previous Russia's President and current Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin was in Bulgaria last year it was negotiated that South Stream would be constructed with pipes running parallel to those of the Bulgarian national gas transport network and no change in stands had occurred since. "So, the ownership of our network will not change," Parvanov said. The diplomatic discord on the two key projects – South Stream and Nabucco – marked the second day of the forum. Romania, Egypt, Austria, the Czech Republic and some others stood up for Nabucco. The representatives of the Italian Eni and the countries whose territories would potentially “host” Nabucco’s pipelines stood behind Gazprom’s idea. The most serious defence of South Stream was spoken out by Italy’s Minister of Economic Development Claudio Scajola. “I don’t think anyone would ever imagine EU’s energy policy could exist without Russia. The Russian gas is at the backbone of all gas deliveries to the rest of Europe, and so shall it be in the future,” he stated.