The caretaker government today approved two memoranda of understanding between Bulgaria and Greece, through which the two countries will be able to develop their cooperation in the field of energy, the press service of the Council of Ministers announced. 

Through the first document, the two countries are expected to cooperate in the study of the possibilities for the implementation of a project for the construction of the Alexandroupolis - Burgas oil pipeline.

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The signing of the memorandum aims to create the necessary basis for studying the possibilities for the implementation of the infrastructure project for the transfer of crude oil from non-Russian sources from the port of Alexandroupolis in Greece to the Burgas region in Bulgaria.

The creation of a special working group with the participation of representatives of the Ministry of Energy of Bulgaria, the Ministry of Environment and Energy of Greece, as well as the interested parties from both countries is foreseen.

The expert team will carry out the necessary preliminary studies, explore the possibilities for structuring a project for the construction of the Alexandroupolis - Burgas oil pipeline and analyze the options for its financing.

Within the framework of the working group, an Action Plan for the implementation of the project by the end of 2024 should be prepared.

The capacity of the proposed pipeline is expected to provide at least a full replacement of Russian crude oil imports to Bulgaria by sea from alternative sources.

The purpose of the second document is to strengthen the cooperation between the two countries to ensure the security of supply and storage of natural gas in a spirit of solidarity and mutual assistance.

The memorandum will be concluded in implementation of Regulation (EU) 2022/1032 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 June 2022 amending Regulations (EU) 2017/1938 and (EC) No. 715/2009 in relation to the storage of natural gas.

According to the requirements of the regulation, any country that does not have underground gas storage facilities on its territory must maintain strategic reserves equal to 15% of its annual consumption in another EU country.

One or more Greek suppliers of the national natural gas transmission system managed by DESFA should register as users of the Bulgarian transmission system, as provided for in the Network Code of Bulgartransgaz.

In this way, they will be able to reserve injection and extraction capacities in the Chiren storage for a maximum total storage volume of 0.7 TWh.

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In turn, slots and storage capacity, as well as the corresponding capacity for regasification from terminals in Greece, can be reserved by one or more Bulgarian suppliers of the national gas transmission system managed by Bulgartransgaz EAD.

They will use liquefied natural gas for direct supply to end users on the territory of Bulgaria for a maximum total annual regasification capacity of 2 TWh.

The memorandum will be concluded for 12 months and will enter into force after its ratification by the National Assembly of Bulgaria.

Alexandroupolis - Burgas