Head of Parliamentary Energy Committee
Pessimistic About Turkish
Stream Project


Sofia, May 21 (BTA) - The head of the energy committee in the
Bulgarian Parliament and former energy minister Delyan Dobrev
said it is unrealistic to expect the Turkish Stream gas pipeline
project to go ahead, especially of the same scale as the
abandoned South Stream project. Dobrev was speaking to the press
Thursday after a meeting of his committee.

"In respect of Turkish Stream, I am pessimistic that there will
be such a project despite all declarations about commencing
construction - and even less a project with a capacity of 63
billion cubic meters," said Dobrev. "Even if a pipe is built, it
will be one - not four as in South Stream, and of a much
smaller capacity."

Asked to comment information about headway being made with the
construction of a Bulgaria-Turkish gas interconnector, Dobrev
said that there has always been support on political level "but
the issue has been on the agenda for five years now and we seem
unable to make progress on corporate level". "The moment I see
any progress between Botas and Bulgartransgas, I will tell you
that I am optimistic about the gas connection with Turkey," said
the former energy minister.

At its Thursday meeting, the parliamentary energy committee
adopted a framework position on a proposal for a decision of the
European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union
concerning the establishment and operation of a market stability
reserve for the Union greenhouse gas emission trading scheme.
By the proposed decision, 900 million emission allowances will
be back-loaded for years 2019 and 2020, not 2021 as initially
planned. PK/LN/


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