site.btaEnergy Minister Radev: Feasibility Study for Burgas - Alexandroupolis Oil Pipeline Construction Project Underway

Attending a round table on fuels and energy security in Grand Hotel Sofia, Energy Minister Rumen Radev said that a feasibility study is underway for the construction of an oil pipeline and a product pipeline from Alexandroupolis (Greece) to Burgas (on the Black Sea). The event was organized by the 3E News information portal and energy policy expert Slavcho Neykov.

Radev said that the project is important for Bulgaria’s energy diversification process. The first meeting of the inter-ministerial working group took place in September and a road map is currently being drawn up, meaning that Bulgaria has potential options and routes, the Energy Minister added.

According to the Energy Minister, the project will allow the refinery in Burgas to use different varieties of crude oil (currently the refinery uses mostly Russian crude oil). Furthermore, the pipeline between Alexandroupolis and Burgas will have a positive impact on the competitiveness and industrial growth of both Bulgaria and the Burgas Region.

"The project should be implemented on the basis of substantiated actions and not driven by political demands," Radev emphasized.

Neykov added that the topic of Bulgaria's energy strategy is expected to be discussed in Parliament on November 24.

Minister Radev also highlighted another major challenge for Bulgaria and the government - the European Commission's target to increase the share of renewable fuels in the transport sector to 29%, against the current target of 14% share of renewables under its directive.