Romania could take place of Bulgaria in the South Stream pipeline

Romania could exclude Bulgaria from the South Stream project, radio station The Voice of Russia reported, quoting this week's announcement of Bucharest regarding the feasibility study for their participation in the project, which is under way. Bulgaria's tacticising with Moscow, the objective of which is to reach the highest possible transit fees for the Russian gas passing through Bulgarian territory, could have a negative impact on the whole matter.

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The fact is that Bulgaria has been charging for the transit of Russian gas to Turkey, Greece and Macedonia below market price so Sofia offered Moscow two options, namely to raise transit fees or to offer lower prices for the gas supplied to Bulgaria.

PHOTO: iStockphoto

Genadij Shmal, Chair of Oil & Gas Industrialists Association said that Bulgaria had definitely overrated its role within the South Stream project. He added that South Stream was only in the phase of being formed so it could decide for a route via Bulgaria, Romania or choose any other direction.

According to Shmal, everything will depend on the terms, claimed by transit countries. He believes that Bulgaria is not at all as important as to cause the implementation of such a massive project to be postponed, as it can be simply replaced by another county.

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