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November 29th, 2009

GREEK DEPUTY ENERGY MINISTER ON BURGAS-ALEXANDROUPOLI OIL PIPELINE 29-11-2009

The Burgas-Alexandroupoli oil pipeline, the Komotini-Haskovo natural gas pipeline and the possibility of the signing of an electric power exchange agreement between Greece and Bulgaria were discussed on Wednesday morning by Deputy Energy, Environment and

The Burgas-Alexandroupoli oil pipeline, the Komotini-Haskovo natural gas pipeline and the possibility of the signing of an electric power exchange agreement between Greece and Bulgaria were discussed on Wednesday morning by Deputy Energy, Environment and Climatic Change Minister Yiannis Maniatis and Bulgarian Economy, Energy and Tourism Minister Traicho Traikov.

As regards the Burgas-Alexandroupoli pipeline, Maniatis said that Greece is moving steadfastly towards the implementation of the project and announced that a bill will be tabled to facilitate the construction of the project, with emphasis on issues concerning land use.

   In parallel, the project's Local Committee will be recreated, the Interministerial Committee for its monitoring, as well as the Negotiating Committee of the Passage Agreement, while possible offset benefits for the local societies are being examined.

   The Bulgarian side stressed the need for securing the necessary quantities of oil as a precondition for the pipeline's viability. The timely settlement of the issue will also be requested from the Russian side which has assumed the contractual commitment.

   Maniatis and Traikov agreed to close cooperation between the two ministries for all the necessary measures to be taken for the passing of the pipelines through their territory, taking into consideration all the parametres (technical, economic, environmental, etc).

   On the question of the "vertical" Haskovo-Komotini (IGB) pipeline, the importance of the project was stressed, the prospect of its funding by the European Economic Recovery Plan was examined while the creation of a bilateral work group was decided for its implementation.

   At the same time, the initiative by the three ministers from Greece-Bulgaria-Italy to send a letter to European Union Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs on securing the necessary funds was considered positive.