Chiren

"Before running out of supplies in Chiren, the Russians will release gas to Bulgaria. This case will not last more than a week, maximum 10 days, as this is a kind of test of what would be the effect if natural gas supplies are cut in Europe."

The South Stream pipeline will be more important in terms of gas transportation than of supplies to Bulgaria, caretaker Economy Minister Vasil Shtonov made clear.

In an interview with public broadcaster BNT he explained that it would be gas transit taxes that would bring more profit to Bulgaria, "even though [through the project] we are, of course, undergoing diversification."