Standart News

"Natural gas is Bulgaria's big hope for energy independence," Bulgaria's minister of economy, energy and tourism, Delyan Dobrev stated in an interview for ITAR-TASS, cited by the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA).
Minister Dobrev's optimism is connected with the exploration of the French company Total in Block 1-21 Han Asparuh in the deep waters of the Black Sea.
Total company won the competition for search and exploration for oil and gas in July 2012 with the partnership of Austrian company ЋЊV and Spanish Repsol S.A.
Minister Dobrev stated that a contract with Total for exploration of Block 1-21 for 5 years was to be signed.
"In case Total company discovers natural gas the company will be given the right to apply for its extraction," minister Dobrev also said.
"The project with the Russian participation in Belene NPP cannot be realized as there is no strategic investor and the terms on its financing does not satisfy Bulgaria," minister Dobrev commented.
Delyan Dobrev stated he supported the organization of a referendum so that the Bulgarians have their say on the stopped in March 2012 Belene NPP project. In Minister Dobrev's opinion the Bulgarians should know the price of the construction of the nuke. According to the analysis of British bank HSBC, which is a consultant on the project, the Belene NPP construction would cost 10,35 billion euro.
"We neither have a strategic investor nor we have any financing and due to this the project cannot be realized," minister Dobrev stated further.