Implementation of the project for the Bulgarian section of Turk Stream begins

The Bulgarian state gas operator Bulgartransgaz and the Saudi Arabian consortium Arcad on September 18 signed a contract to build the Bulgarian section of Turk Stream. It envisages the construction of a pipeline from the Turkish-Bulgarian to the Bulgarian-Serbian border. The project is worth over 1 billion euros, and its implementation begins from September 19. Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said that the efforts were enormous and the procedure very fair and transparent.

The value of the project is 1 billion one hundred and two million euros.

Vladimir Malinov, CEO of Bulgarstransgaz: The deadline for this gas pipeline to be implemented and put into operation is 615 calendar days from the date of signing the agreement. Within the first 250 days, a linear infrastructure of approximate length of 308 kilometres should be built.

This will allow Bulgartransgaz to deliver the necessary quantities of gas to Serbia and from there on the route to Hungary and Austria.

Hani Ali Abdul Latif Abdul Khali, Arcad Consortium: We are very pleased to have signed the contract for the implementation of this key infrastructure project for Bulgaria. We are committed to its implementation within the agreed deadlines and this is a very important step for the relations between Bulgaria and Saudi Arabia.

The biggest benefit for Bulgaria from signing the contract for this project with the state gas company of Saudi Arabia, according to the Bulgarian Prime Minister, is that Bulgaria remains on the gas map.

Otherwise, we would have disappeared from it, the Prime Minister explained, recalling that because of corruption in the previous government, South Stream was stopped, and because of the West, Nabucco West was stopped, he added.

We will also benefit from transit fees, the pipeline will remain Bulgarian after it is paid off, and our neighbours from North Macedonia, Serbia and Hungary will have alternative gas, Borissov added.

He thanked everyone and the Saudi Crown Prince, Prince Salman for helping for the signing of the contract today.

Pipes at 90% are already in Bulgaria and from tomorrow they will be placed on the route and construction starts. Funding from the Saudi Arabian state-owned company was also secured, the PM assured, adding that this was largely due to his personal relationship with the kingdom.

Boyko Borissov: So, gas from Russia, our neighbours and the interconnector will flow through Bulgaria.