Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08SOFIA471
2008-07-18 08:14:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Sofia
Cable title:
BULGARGAZ CEO ON CUTS OF GAS FLOW TO GREECE
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SOFIA 000471
SIPDIS
FOR EUR DAS BRYZA, ENERGY ENVOY GRAY AND ENERGY COORDINATOR
MANN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/17/2018
TAGS: ENRG ECON EPET BU
SUBJECT: BULGARGAZ CEO ON CUTS OF GAS FLOW TO GREECE
REF: ATHENS 1019
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Alex Karagiannis for reasons 1.5 (b) a
nd (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SOFIA 000471
SIPDIS
FOR EUR DAS BRYZA, ENERGY ENVOY GRAY AND ENERGY COORDINATOR
MANN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/17/2018
TAGS: ENRG ECON EPET BU
SUBJECT: BULGARGAZ CEO ON CUTS OF GAS FLOW TO GREECE
REF: ATHENS 1019
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Alex Karagiannis for reasons 1.5 (b) a
nd (d).
1. (C) State-owned Bulgargaz CEO Lubomir Denchev told us
July 17 that recent interruptions of gas supply to Greece
were the result of planned annual maintenance of pipeline
infrastructure on Ukrainian territory. He said the year's
pipeline maintenance plan is negotiated during annual
"dispatcher council" meetings. According to Denchev, in
2008, as agreed, maintenance is being conducted by a joint
Gazprom-Ukrainian-Turkish company, Gaztransit, and has caused
several interruptions of regular gas supplies to Greece: in
May/June (for 10 days),in June (for 3 days) and in July (5
days). Denchev claimed that normal gas supplies to Greece
were resumed as of July 16 after the last round of
maintenance.
2. (C) Denchev said that in previous years regular
maintenance did not cause supply disruptions to Greece
because in the past Bulgargaz increased the capacity of its
compressor pumps during maintenance periods. This year
Bulgargaz has refused to do so due to the fuel costs it
incurs when increasing pump capacity, for which it is not
reimbursed. Denchev noted that Romania does not have
compressor pump capacity on its territory and in previous
years has depended on Bulgaria to incur the costs of pumping
gas to Greece during maintenance periods.
3. (C) Comment: Denchev, who was very responsive in
talking with us on short notice (consistent with what has
been the practice this year as opposed to 2007) was decidedly
matter-of-fact in explaining his company's role in gas cuts
to Greece. He did not touch on the possibility that Russia
could be behind the cuts (ref A). The Bulgarians are well
aware that Russia has used its energy resources for political
purposes in the past -- conditioning countries to consider
that possibility whenever there are disruptions. Bulgaria's
Ambassador for Energy Security and soon-to-be Nabucco
Ambassador Peter Poptchev told us July 16 that the recent cut
of oil supplies to the Czech Republic is "highly suspicious."
He noted he had been contacted the same day by the Czech
Embassy in Sofia in order to arrange the delivery of a
demarche on the subject.
Karagiannis
SIPDIS
FOR EUR DAS BRYZA, ENERGY ENVOY GRAY AND ENERGY COORDINATOR
MANN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/17/2018
TAGS: ENRG ECON EPET BU
SUBJECT: BULGARGAZ CEO ON CUTS OF GAS FLOW TO GREECE
REF: ATHENS 1019
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Alex Karagiannis for reasons 1.5 (b) a
nd (d).
1. (C) State-owned Bulgargaz CEO Lubomir Denchev told us
July 17 that recent interruptions of gas supply to Greece
were the result of planned annual maintenance of pipeline
infrastructure on Ukrainian territory. He said the year's
pipeline maintenance plan is negotiated during annual
"dispatcher council" meetings. According to Denchev, in
2008, as agreed, maintenance is being conducted by a joint
Gazprom-Ukrainian-Turkish company, Gaztransit, and has caused
several interruptions of regular gas supplies to Greece: in
May/June (for 10 days),in June (for 3 days) and in July (5
days). Denchev claimed that normal gas supplies to Greece
were resumed as of July 16 after the last round of
maintenance.
2. (C) Denchev said that in previous years regular
maintenance did not cause supply disruptions to Greece
because in the past Bulgargaz increased the capacity of its
compressor pumps during maintenance periods. This year
Bulgargaz has refused to do so due to the fuel costs it
incurs when increasing pump capacity, for which it is not
reimbursed. Denchev noted that Romania does not have
compressor pump capacity on its territory and in previous
years has depended on Bulgaria to incur the costs of pumping
gas to Greece during maintenance periods.
3. (C) Comment: Denchev, who was very responsive in
talking with us on short notice (consistent with what has
been the practice this year as opposed to 2007) was decidedly
matter-of-fact in explaining his company's role in gas cuts
to Greece. He did not touch on the possibility that Russia
could be behind the cuts (ref A). The Bulgarians are well
aware that Russia has used its energy resources for political
purposes in the past -- conditioning countries to consider
that possibility whenever there are disruptions. Bulgaria's
Ambassador for Energy Security and soon-to-be Nabucco
Ambassador Peter Poptchev told us July 16 that the recent cut
of oil supplies to the Czech Republic is "highly suspicious."
He noted he had been contacted the same day by the Czech
Embassy in Sofia in order to arrange the delivery of a
demarche on the subject.
Karagiannis