Bulgaria is waiting for Gazprom to pay for transit without Gazprombank

Bulgartransgaz is waiting for Gazprom to explain how the company will pay for gas transit through the continuation of the Turkish Stream (Balkan Stream), which goes to Serbia and Hungary. Previously, payments were made through Gazprombank, but it will be under US sanctions from December 20. This was stated by Acting Minister of Energy Vladimir Malinov.

"In the absence of payment, Bulgartransgaz may have to stop transporting gas through the Balkan Stream, it became clear from Malinov's words," the BNR news agency reports.

The head of the Ministry of Energy of Bulgaria explained that Bulgartransgaz fulfills contracts on time and with the necessary quality.

"From now on, the company that reserved the capacity and paid through Gazprombank must find a solution if it wants to continue receiving the service. There is still time, at the moment all payments due have been made. Until December 20, the sanctions regime imposed by the United States provides for a transitional period. We are waiting for Gazprom's proposal," said Vladimir Malinov.

The United States imposed sanctions on Gazprombank, which is a key link in the payment of pipeline gas by companies from unfriendly countries. They come into force on December 20. President Vladimir Putin amended the law and allowed paying bills in rubles through third parties — other banks, payment agents or companies.

Turkey and Hungary stated that they had applied to the United States for exceptions to sanctions, as Washington did for American companies buying Russian uranium.

Also under threat, in turn, was the payment of transit of Russian gas.

Gazprom has two export routes to Europe left — through Ukraine and through Bulgaria via the European route of the Turkish Stream. The southern route accounts for more than half of the deliveries — more than 15 billion cubic meters this year. Part of the gas goes to Serbia and Hungary via the Balkan Stream. The other part goes through the territory of Bulgaria to Greece and North Macedonia.