Azerbaijan could start gas deliveries to Bulgaria and South East Europe in 2013

Bulgaria may receive its first gas deliveries from Azerbaijan in 2013, Economy and Energy Minister Traicho Traikov said after a meeting with his Azeri counterpart Natig Aliyev in Baku.

Bulgarian Energy Holding (BEH) and Greece’s power utility DEPA have pledged to complete the gas inter-connection between Bulgaria and Greece in 2013, a year earlier than the term stipulated in the project’s road map.

The second condition for launching gas deliveries to Bulgaria is signing an inter-governmental agreement between Baku and Ankara that will allow gas transit across Turkey.

“These supplies are important for Bulgaria because they guarantee alternative sources and routes for gas deliveries. They are also important for Southeast Europe to create competition that will lead to lower prices for consumers. Azerbaijan is also interested as it finds new markets,” Traikov said.