site.btaBulgaria Natgas Supplies Secure until End-2023, Public Supplier Says

The underground gas storage facility at Chiren is over 85% full, Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (EWRC) Chairman Ivan Ivanov said Monday. Speaking at an open meeting of the energy regulator, he added that it would be no less than 95% full by the start of the heating season and measures would be taken to ensure that Bulgaria could confidently see the winter in, without unpleasant surprises.

Noting that natgas supplies contracted under the first collective bargaining procedure organized by the European Commission had been fulfilled 100%, but there had been none for public supplier Bulgargaz, Ivanov asked whether the necessary quantities of natural gas by the end of 2023 are guaranteed.

All quantities for the public supplier's clients have been secured, Bulgargaz CEO Denitsa Zlateva said, including those that will be pumped into Chiren. The public supplier will judge additionally whether to participate in bids for 2024 on the all-European collective bargaining platform where it is registered as both buyer and seller. 

Zlateva also hopes to achieve agreement for compensations for the costly natural gas previously pumped into the Chiren storage facility. According to her, this will inevitably lower the price of natural gas even more.

The energy regulator will come out with a decision on the public supplier's application for approval of a price for June at which the public supplier is to sell natural gas to end-suppliers at a meeting behind closed doors on June 1, Ivanov said.