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The business will ask the government for secure supplies of gas at competitive prices and evidence that our country will not suffer a sanction for not taking the quantities we requested from Gazprom Export.

Vasil Velev, chairman of the Association of Industrial Capital in Bulgaria, said this on Nova News.

According to him, these sanctions will be over 1 billion and will be paid by each and every one of the Bulgarian citizens.

"But what we're going to do is we're going to sue the people who let this happen. And we're going to have a public process to make it clear who we're currently paying nearly $300 million a month more for gas and who we're going to we pay more than 1 billion in penalties for quantities of gas that we claimed but did not take".

"The business is facing a loss of competitiveness", Velev also pointed out.

"We expect the price of natural gas in Bulgaria to be over 150 euros per megawatt hour in August.

For comparison, in neighboring Serbia it is 45 euros - 3 times less, in Hungary - 65 euros, two and a half times less, and in Greece - 80 euros, two times less.

All these countries, including Bulgaria, receive Russian gas.

But we're getting it at twice, three times the price."

Former Deputy Minister of Energy: "Bulgargaz" acted sluggishly and unprepared

Velev pointed out that the price under the contract with Gazprom is 30% lower than the current market spot price.

Regarding the protests against a possible renewal of negotiations with Gazprom, he was categorical:

"This is a protest of a sect. This is a sect of opponents of Russian gas bought without intermediaries. This is its name of this suicidal sect. Because we buy Russian gas, but through intermediaries, 30% more expensive. This is not bad for this sect, the bad is when we buy it directly 30% cheaper".

"The responsible Bulgarian European position is to take the maximum amount from Gazprom Export. To fill 100% of Chiren and if we have any left, to sell this gas in Europe".

We achieve diversification over time, Velev stressed.

At the Anti-Crisis Headquarters, to which AIKB has been invited, but has not yet met, the business will insist on discussing in the event of a gas shortage, in which order they will be shut off, what early notice they will receive, what compensation there will be for the enterprises deprived of gas.

And the high price leads to restriction of activity, reduction of sales, salaries, personnel, Velev explained and concluded: "If this continues long enough - to receive more expensive gas from our competitors, this will lead to work stoppages and closures of enterprises".

Vasil Velev

The Association of Industrial Capital in Bulgaria

Russian gas