Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08SOFIA212
2008-04-09 15:18:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Sofia
Cable title:
BULGARIA INTERESTED IN THE TURKEY-GREECE-ITALY
how-toVZCZCXRO7603 OO RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHSF #0212 1001518 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 091518Z APR 08 FM AMEMBASSY SOFIA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4913 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 0719 RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS PRIORITY 1457 RUEHKB/AMEMBASSY BAKU PRIORITY 0051 RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME PRIORITY 0517 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SOFIA 000212
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR SPECIAL ENVOY FOR EURASIAN ENERGY GRAY, ENERGY
COORDINATOR MANN AND EUR DAS BRYZA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/07/2018
TAGS: ECON ENRG PREL BG
SUBJECT: BULGARIA INTERESTED IN THE TURKEY-GREECE-ITALY
INTERCONNECTOR
Classified By: Ambassador John Beyrle for reasons 1.4 b and d.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SOFIA 000212
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR SPECIAL ENVOY FOR EURASIAN ENERGY GRAY, ENERGY
COORDINATOR MANN AND EUR DAS BRYZA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/07/2018
TAGS: ECON ENRG PREL BG
SUBJECT: BULGARIA INTERESTED IN THE TURKEY-GREECE-ITALY
INTERCONNECTOR
Classified By: Ambassador John Beyrle for reasons 1.4 b and d.
1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 5.
2. (C) Summary: Bulgaria has expressed interest in hooking
up to the Turkey-Greece-Italy gas pipeline to begin taking
one bcm of Azeri gas before Nabucco comes on line. Bulgaria
would build a 60 kilometer interconnector from Haskovo to the
Greek town of Komotini to tap into TGI. The idea is in its
early stages, but Bulgarian President Parvanov raised it with
Azerbaijani President Aliyev in Baku March 10-12. The GOB is
looking for USG support for this idea with the view that it
could reduce significantly Bulgaria's dependence on Russian
gas. End Summary.
3. (C) Minister of Regional Development Asen Gagauzov told
Ambassador March 20 that Bulgaria is interested in hooking up
to the Turkey-Greece-Italy pipeline so it can start importing
one bcm of Azeri gas before Nabucco comes on line. Gagauzov
said President Parvanov expressed Bulgaria's intent to sign
contracts for this amount of Azeri gas during an official
visit to Azerbaijan March 10-12. The one bcm would be
Bulgaria's Nabucco quota, but Bulgaria would like to take
this gas as soon as possible - even before Nabucco comes on
line. One option would be a short, 60 kilometer TGI
interconnection between the Bulgarian town of Haskovo and the
Greek town of Komotini. In Gagauzov's words, such an
interconnection would represent "clean diversification" away
from Russian energy. Knowing that Greece and Turkey will
need to be convinced, Deputy Minister of Energy Galina
Tosheva told us April 7 the GOB is seeking USG support for
this idea.
4. (C) Comment: As long as it does not come at the expense
of progress on Nabucco or TGI functioning, a Bulgarian
interconnection to TGI makes sense. It would represent
Bulgaria's first attempt at diversification away from its
nearly complete dependence on Russian gas. With Bulgaria's
domestic consumption at 3.5 bcm/yr, one bcm from Azerbaijan
represents a significant diversification. If combined with
the potential 3 bcm LNG terminal which the International
Financial Corporation is now studying on behalf of Bulgargaz,
Bulgaria could reduce its dependence on Russian gas entirely.
5. (C) Action Request: We request Department's views on
potential Bulgarian participation in TGI, as well as input
from Embassies Baku, Ankara, Athens and Rome on the plusses
and minuses of this plan. If Department supports Bulgarian
participation in TGI, we would appreciate receiving a green
light as soon as possible to re-engage with the GOB on next
steps to move this forward.
Beyrle
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR SPECIAL ENVOY FOR EURASIAN ENERGY GRAY, ENERGY
COORDINATOR MANN AND EUR DAS BRYZA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/07/2018
TAGS: ECON ENRG PREL BG
SUBJECT: BULGARIA INTERESTED IN THE TURKEY-GREECE-ITALY
INTERCONNECTOR
Classified By: Ambassador John Beyrle for reasons 1.4 b and d.
1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 5.
2. (C) Summary: Bulgaria has expressed interest in hooking
up to the Turkey-Greece-Italy gas pipeline to begin taking
one bcm of Azeri gas before Nabucco comes on line. Bulgaria
would build a 60 kilometer interconnector from Haskovo to the
Greek town of Komotini to tap into TGI. The idea is in its
early stages, but Bulgarian President Parvanov raised it with
Azerbaijani President Aliyev in Baku March 10-12. The GOB is
looking for USG support for this idea with the view that it
could reduce significantly Bulgaria's dependence on Russian
gas. End Summary.
3. (C) Minister of Regional Development Asen Gagauzov told
Ambassador March 20 that Bulgaria is interested in hooking up
to the Turkey-Greece-Italy pipeline so it can start importing
one bcm of Azeri gas before Nabucco comes on line. Gagauzov
said President Parvanov expressed Bulgaria's intent to sign
contracts for this amount of Azeri gas during an official
visit to Azerbaijan March 10-12. The one bcm would be
Bulgaria's Nabucco quota, but Bulgaria would like to take
this gas as soon as possible - even before Nabucco comes on
line. One option would be a short, 60 kilometer TGI
interconnection between the Bulgarian town of Haskovo and the
Greek town of Komotini. In Gagauzov's words, such an
interconnection would represent "clean diversification" away
from Russian energy. Knowing that Greece and Turkey will
need to be convinced, Deputy Minister of Energy Galina
Tosheva told us April 7 the GOB is seeking USG support for
this idea.
4. (C) Comment: As long as it does not come at the expense
of progress on Nabucco or TGI functioning, a Bulgarian
interconnection to TGI makes sense. It would represent
Bulgaria's first attempt at diversification away from its
nearly complete dependence on Russian gas. With Bulgaria's
domestic consumption at 3.5 bcm/yr, one bcm from Azerbaijan
represents a significant diversification. If combined with
the potential 3 bcm LNG terminal which the International
Financial Corporation is now studying on behalf of Bulgargaz,
Bulgaria could reduce its dependence on Russian gas entirely.
5. (C) Action Request: We request Department's views on
potential Bulgarian participation in TGI, as well as input
from Embassies Baku, Ankara, Athens and Rome on the plusses
and minuses of this plan. If Department supports Bulgarian
participation in TGI, we would appreciate receiving a green
light as soon as possible to re-engage with the GOB on next
steps to move this forward.
Beyrle