Turkey, Bulgaria hard at work on gas project

Bulgarian and Turkish gas operators Bulgartransgaz and Botaş will hold meetings as soon as possible to speed up progress for the Turkey-Bulgaria Gas Interconnection Project "ITB," Nadezhda Neynsky, Bulgaria's ambassador to Turkey, told state-run Anadolu Agency on Sept. 25.               

Neynsky said Bulgaria attaches great importance to the development of Bulgarian-Turkish relations and sees further potential for cooperation, particularly in the energy sector.  
    
A delegation headed by Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Berat Albayrak in a visit to Sofia on Sept. 7 discussed bilateral energy cooperation with Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov and Energy Minister Temenuzhka Petkova.      

"Both sides agreed to intensify cooperation in the field of gas and electricity. In this regard, the gas operators Bulgartransgaz and Botaş as well as electricity operators ESO and TEİAŞ will hold bilateral meetings as soon as possible," the Bulgarian ambassador added.      

Bulgartransgaz and Botaş are working on the realization of the joint Turkey-Bulgaria ITB, for which Bulgartransgaz has prepared a feasibility study for the Bulgarian territory co-funded by the EU under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) mechanism, Neynsky said. 
     
"This feasibility study was sent to the Turkish side and Botaş's position in response is expected," Neynsky noted.
      
Bulgaria is paying special attention to this project, which ensures the development of reversible interconnections of gas transmission networks of Bulgartransgaz and Botaş. The project is an opportunity to allow for the diversification of natural gas sources, the supply to both partners and routes, and greater competition while enhancing the security of...