Bulgaria Govt Coalition to Keep Shale Ban, Back EU-Compliant South Stream

Securing Bulgaria's energy independence is part of the programme of Bulgaria's new coalition government expected to voted into office on Friday.

Coalition members GERB and the Reformist Bloc have agreed in their joint programme for government to continue the suspended construction of Moscow-backed South Stream gas pipeline only if the project fully complies with EU energy legislation, its economic benefits to Bulgaria were proven and in dialogie with the European Commission.

The new government will keep Bulgaria's ban on the use of the controversial hydraulic fracturing technology in prospecting for and production of shale gas while continuing searching for and producing oil and gas from national reserves through conventional methods.

To reduce Bulgaria's dependence on Russian gas imports and diversify supply sources the future government plans to complete construction of gas interconnections with the country's neighbours.

Extending the lifespan of the two operational reactors of Bulgaria's sole Kozloduy nuclear power plant are also part of the coalition government's programme un the energy sector.