The fact that Bulgaria is dragging its feet when it comes to implementing the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pip­eline may prompt Russia to press ahead with another parallel outlet to the Mediterranean from Samsun to Ceyhan in Turkey, much to Ankara’s delight.
Russia and Kazakhstan want to bypass the crowded Bosporus and deliver their oil to Europe so they are looking for the best commercial route for its transportation. “We’re discussing Burgas-Alexandroupolis more than 15 years and nothing happened. That’s the reason why another idea already came - via Turkey. We should simplify our discussions on energy ... Russia and Kazakhstan will find just the right partner - efficient, cheaper, no political risks,” Alexander Berezikov, advisor to the Russian Duma Vice Speaker and former Vice President of Russian-British joint venture TNK-BP, told New Europe in an interview on the sidelines of an energy conference in Athens on 9 November. “Bulgaria is an independent state. Of course, they can ask questions, they can prevent any provision - that’s independency. But Russia is an independent state as well. We need partners with whom we are talking efficiently. I’m not just talking about Bulgaria. I’m talking about all partners of the Russian Federation,” Berezikov said.
Peter Poptchev, Bulgarian Ambassador at-Large for energy security, told New Europe, that Sofia is proceeding with the project and so far the main issue of contention has been the ecological implications because the people of Burgas and surrounding areas are “legitimately” concerned about their tourism and beaches.
“The new government, which is more sensitive to public reaction, has promised that it will do its best,” he said, adding that it considers digging up additional space in the Burgas port so that Russian ships do not have to use a flexible connection outside the port or wait outside the port where some conditions may create some problems, for example oil leakage. He said that more investment is needed but companies would have to bear the cost.
“In the meantime, we read that the new Greek government itself wants to look into some matters of Burgas-Alexandroupolis so we actually coincide. The two sides apart from Russia want to possibly look again at this contract perhaps for different reasons but the net result is that the three sides will sit again at the table to at least consult on Burgas-Alexandroupolis,” Poptchev said.
He shrugged off Russia’s plans to build Samsun-Ceyhan. “I talked to experts and it is my understanding that now Kazakhstan plans to put in the market another 50-60 million tons of oil and obviously these two outlets which avoid the Bosporus should normally be filled so I do not see any particular problem,” he said. However, Poptchev stressed that Bulgaria remains committed to all three Russian energy projects.
Greek Deputy Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Change John Maniatis said that Greece is not facing energy security issues. “It is an open market for producers, it’s an open country for transport pipelines and should be a hub of providing and not only transporting energy,” he said.
Berezikov told New Europe that “officially” there is enough oil for both Burgas-Alexandroupolis and Samsun-Ceyhan. “The official Russian position is that there is enough oil from Russia and Kazakhstan for both pipelines. But, of course, there is competition between them. It’s like South Stream and Nabucco. Officially we say there is no competition between the two pipes because like it was said at the conference there are two different sources for these pipes, but unofficially, of course, it’s like a competition,” he said.
 KGeropoulos@NEurope.eu