Bulgaria’s Economy and Energy Minister Traikov has blamed his predecessor Rumen Ovcharov who succumbing to pressure from Gazprom to renegotiate the Russian natural gas supplies for the country in 2006.

Speaking in Varna Thursday, Traikov declared that Rumen Ovcharov, as part of the Socialist-led three-way coalition government of PM Sergey Stanishev is the first Bulgarian official who agreed to change the existing agreement under which Bulgaria got Russian natural gas for USD 83 per 1000 cubic meters.

According to the current Minister of Economy, Energy, and Tourism, Ovcharov, who was the Economy and Energy Minister in 2005-2007 and resigned after corruption allegations, is the person who agreed to new terms under which the sum that Bulgaria paid for Russian natural gas is supposed to reach the market prices over a transition period from April 1, 2007, till December 31, 2012.

One of the agreements for the delivery of Russian gas supplies to Buglaria expires in 2011, and has to be renewed.

“We stand a fair chance of renegotiating the price of Russian natural gas supplies,” Traikov declared explaining that his ministry had drafted a package of proposals to the Russians, which, in his words, “defend Bulgaria’s national interests.”

As of July 1, 2010, natural gas prices in Bulgaria have gone up by almost 25% leading to an average heating prices increase of 12%.

Speaking on Wednesday, former Energy Minister Rumen Ovcharov and former PM Sergey Stanishev said that only 4% of the present gas price hike was the result of the terms of the supply contract with Gazprom. Ovcharov slammed Traikov for causing the rest of the increase by failing to apply to the proper price formula measures, and keeping the price down artificially over the past few months.

In addition to the gas supplies prices, Bulgaria is also hoping to renegotiate with Gazprom the removal of the intermediaries in the contracts.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!