Bulgaria will cease importing Russian natural gas by 2026, in accordance with the European Union"s decision, Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov announced today, as quoted by the Council of Ministers.
This decision is part of the EU"s broader strategy for diversifying energy sources and reducing dependence on Russian energy carriers, a strategy supported by Bulgaria since the beginning of the energy crisis.
The Prime Minister"s statement is categorical and unambiguous _ Bulgaria, as a full member of the EU, will fulfill its commitments in accordance with the common European policy.
The official announcement from the Council of Ministers emphasizes that "Since the derogation we insisted on so much was lifted, Russian oil is not being processed at the local "Neftochim"", Zhelyazkov said.
This is a key moment, showing Bulgaria"s gradual abandonment of Russian energy resources.
The lifting of the derogation, after lengthy discussions and negotiations at the European level, was defined by many experts as an important step towards the country"s energy independence.
Prime Minister Zhelyazkov added that "We have already contacted the US for October and November, and at very good conditions for liquefied natural gas, and our market has fully sufficient natural gas at competitive prices".
This statement calmly highlights the securing of alternative gas sources to prevent potential supply disruptions that could lead to energy insecurity.
The guarantee of sufficient quantities of natural gas at competitive prices is a key element in reassuring Bulgarian society and business.
The choice of the US as an alternative supplier is an indication of the growing transatlantic energy cooperation.
Whether this cooperation will lead to higher prices for consumers in the long term remains to be seen.
What is certain is that this is a significant move in national energy policy, imposed by the global geopolitical environment.
Events are developing dynamically and the Bulgarian government is striving to ensure the country"s energy security, based on the decisions of the European Union.