Bulgaria 'Seeking to Become Hub for Russian Gas'

Bulgaria has not set for itself the goal of becoming a key hub for gas produced by Russian energy giant Gazprom, according to a Russian daily.

Izvestiya quotes Bulgaria's Deputy Energy Minister Anton Pavlov as saying that Sofia would demand an extension to the so-called Turkish Stream gas pipeline which is to replace South Stream.

The latter was a project that would have carried gas to Central Europe via Bulgaria but which Russia abandoned in 2014.

In the words of Pavlov, Bulgaria could turn into Russia's "gateway into the European gas transportation system" if Turkish Stream is connected to its own gas grid.

This comes amid a gas pricing dispute between Russia and Turkey which in September brought Turkish Stream negotiations to a halt.