“Ensuring energy security requires effective cooperation with reliable suppliers in order to guarantee that the economy and society function with sufficient energy at a reasonable cost. The energy crisis over the past year has demonstrated the urgent need for solidarity and coordinated action to secure the energy supply and tackle the unprecedented rise in gas price” said the Executive Director of Bulgartransgaz EAD, Mr Vladimir Malinov, at the 4th Southeast Europe & East Med conference. The high-level forum, which is being held in the United States capital Washington, is organised by the Delphi Economic Forum and American organisations. Participants discussed the importance of the regional partnership for the energy security.
Bulgaria was the first country in the EU cut off from Russian gas supplies. “Cooperation with reliable partners such as the USA and other LNG producers, and with Greece, allowed us to have the gas supply to the Bulgarian industry and households without restrictions” Mr. Malinov stressed. In his words, the development of LNG receiving terminals in the Eastern Mediterranean, together with a well-developed gas transmission infrastructure, give Greece and Bulgaria the status of energy gateways to Eastern and Central Europe. He reminded the participants that Bulgartransgaz EAD is a 20% shareholder in the project for the construction of an LNG terminal near Alexandroupolis, Greece.
Natural gas is an environmentally friendly energy source and will continue to play a key role in achieving the decarbonization targets in the coming years. In addition, the gas transmission infrastructure provides an opportunity for the successful and rapid introduction of hydrogen into the energy mix. Transmission system operators will also play a key role in this process. The significant potential of the Eastern Mediterranean region and Southeast Europe for both green hydrogen production and its import from trusted and reliable partners will undoubtedly encourage the investments in hydrogen infrastructure. Bulgartransgaz EAD and the Greek transmission system operator DESFA are already working to interconnect hydrogen networks. This will allow us to keep our key role in securing the sustainable energy supply for the region, contributing to the green transition and achieving net zero emissions by 2050.
