Greece and Bulgaria on Thursday signed agreements in Athens to reduce their dependence on Russian oil and gas through a new pipeline and storage cooperation.
The Balkan neighbours will cooperate on procuring and storing natural gas, and “explore” the creation of a new pipeline between the ports of Alexandroupolis and Burgas, the Greek prime minister’s office said.
The agreements are “one more step towards the strategic goal of European (energy) autonomy,” Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said after a meeting with visiting Bulgarian President Rumen Radev.
He said Greek companies would henceforth be able to store natural gas in the underground facility of Chiren, while Bulgarian companies will gain access to the Greek terminal of Revithoussa.
“Both countries will have assured access to facilities that are critical to their energy security,” Mitsotakis said.
He said the agreement “turns our two countries into a crossroads for gas distribution not just from Greece to Bulgaria, but to the rest of Europe.”
Both states have sped up projects to diversify away from dependence on Russian oil and gas.
Earlier in February, Bulgaria launched construction of a long-delayed gas pipeline link to neighbouring Serbia, while Greece has increased its capacity to store liquid natural gas.
Source: AFP
