EC Probes Gazprom's Bulgaria Supplies

The competition arm of the European Commission is investigating Russian gas exports to Bulgaria, in the wake of a cut in supplies to Overgas, an importer and distributor that is half owned by Gazprom.

Ricardo Cardoso, spokesperson for Competition Policy of the European Commission, told NGE March 16: "The European Commission is closely following the competitive conditions as regards the Bulgarian gas market."

The only other importer is Bulgargaz, part of Bulgaria Energy Holding. There had been rumours at that time that Gazprom wanted to revive the South Stream pipeline project, a major subsea pipeline from southern Russia to Turkey, but with the landfall switched to Bulgaria following worse relations between Russia and Turkey.

Since then, Gazprom has confirmed it is in talks with several European energy companies to build the line, but it has not named Bulgaria as a transit route.

Gazprom had a contract to supply Overgas with up to 400mn m³/yr but that expired at the end of Q1 2015, according to Gazprom. 

The antitrust investigation into Gazprom's behaviour in eight countries in central and eastern Europe is ongoing with no end-date in sight.

William Powell