Bulgarian Minister of Finance Assen Vassilev said that the country will not enter negotiations with Russian gas company Gazprom regarding the new natural gas supply agreement, because it is an unreliable business partner. The existing contract with Gazprom will expire at the end of 2022.
He explained that the Government is not willing to sign contracts with unreliable companies. If Bulgaria signs new contract for 2023, Gazprom could again halt gas supply in February, thus leaving Bulgaria without gas supply amid the winter season.
On 27 April, Gazprom has stopped supplying gas to Bulgaria and Poland despite valid contracts, citing the countries’ refusal to pay in rubles as the reason for the halt.
