GAZPROM AGREES TO DIRECT GAS SUPPLY CONTRACTS

Currently there are three gas providers to Bulgaria: Overgas Inc, Wintershall and Gazpromexport

The new gas supply contracts between Bulgaria and Russia will be signed directly and will exclude intermediaries. That emerged after the meeting of Bulgaria's president Georgi Parvanov with Alexey Miller, chairman of Gazprom's management board.

The two discussed the South Stream project and new contracts for gas supply and transit. Bulgaria asked for direct supplies without intermediaries in the spring of last year, ex energy minister Petar Dimitrov reminded. Currently there are three gas providers to Bulgaria: Overgas Inc, Wintershall and Gazpromexport.

The contracts with them expire at a different time until 2012. Miller demanded that Bulgaria's new agreement with Gazprom should be linked to the South Stream project. According to him, Bulgaria's interests will be protected. Miller paid an unexpected visit to Sofia and had a meeting with prime minister Boyko Borisov and energy minister Traycho Traykov as well.