TurkStream2 Stuck in Gas Price Talks

The 15.75bn m³/yr export string of Gazprom's TurkStream pipeline is physically ready to carry gas to Bulgaria on January 1 as planned, but the start of transit is uncertain as talks between Gazprom and Bulgaria remain deadlocked, an official with knowledge of the issue has confirmed. 

The official claimed that Sofia is requesting a 30% discount on Bulgarian gas imports through the line against which Gazprom has offered only 3%. 

An agreement may be possible by January 1 but it would require both sides to make significant concessions, he said. He also claimed that Gazprom had "taken over" the development of the Bulgarian section of TurkStream 2 for which Bulgartransgaz in September signed construction contracts with a consortium led by Saudi-Arabian engineering group Arkad. He was unable to provide details. The 15.75bn m³/yr line, also dubbed Balkan Stream, is set to run through Bulgaria, North Macedonia and Serbia, terminating in Hungary.

Bulgartransgaz has declined to comment to NGW on the readiness of the pipeline on its side of the border.