Bulgaria’s ambitions to play a key role on the European energy market wouldn’t cease, despite the latest unfavorable developments in the sphere. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Bulgarian PM Boyko Borissov contracted on Wednesday in Sofia their new strategic partnership. Its focal point will be the implementation of the joint idea for the restoration of the Nabucco cross-continental pipeline project, abandoned in 2013. Now the two countries intend to lobby in Brussels together for the resurrection of the project, aiming at the delivery of Caspian gas to Europe through Bulgaria, outlining that the dependence on Russian gas supplies will be reduced this way. The latter tend to face more and more difficulties in this situation of a harsh geopolitical confrontation with Moscow. “This is diversification. Thus Europe will be diversified too and I hope we will meet the full support of the EC,” PM Boyko Borissov said. Experts say that Bulgaria has so far suffered failure in its efforts to play any more significant role in Europe, regarding gas supplies. It was the ceasing of Nabucco first, then South Stream collapsed after the Ukrainian crisis and the stance taken by Brussels. That was followed by an idea on the construction of some gas hub alongside the Bulgarian Black Sea shore, where all customers in Central and Eastern Europe would buy blue fuel. However, Brussels was not so keen on that idea and Vice President of the EC in charge of the Energy Union Maroš Šefčovič staved in a diplomatic manner Bulgaria’s appeal for EU support of this plan.

However, PM Boyko Borissov is still firmly convinced that Bulgaria does deserve its position as a key segment, as far as gas supplies to Europe are concerned and now he opts for Nabucco’s resurrection. Azerbaijan wouldn’t object the expansion of its gas customers’ list and wouldn’t miss even the slightest opportunity to boost its markets and influence in the energy sphere, having giant deposits of over 2.5 trillion m3 of gas.

The new plan of Sofia and Baku seems to be grounded on common sense, especially bearing in mind the forthcoming in a few years ceasing of Russian gas supplies via Ukraine. It is obvious that the perspectives for the southern gas corridors are big ones, as those are in fact the shortcut to the major gas deposits in the eastern part of the Black and Caspian seas. However, these projects also attract lots of interests and attention – now the question is which corridor and through which country will be supported by the most powerful political and business circles not only in Europe, but worldwide. Turkey seems to be in the best position for the moment, but the competition is strong. Bulgaria can also find its spot under the European gas sun with a second Nabucco crossing its territory - why not?

English version: Zhivko Stanchev