Bulgaria will assist Ukraine in restoring the energy infrastructure

"The Bulgarian side will assist Ukraine in the process of restoring the energy infrastructure. Deepening cooperation in the field of energy is of mutual interest to both countries." This was said by Minister of Energy Vladimir Malinov during a meeting with H.E. Olesya Ilashchuk, Ambassador of the Republic of Ukraine to our country. The two talked about the possibilities of the Bulgarian side to provide adequate and timely support to the Ukrainian side in the short and long term. This was announced today by the Ministry of Energy.

Minister Malinov and Ambassador Ilashchuk also discussed the issue of the potential sale of parts of the equipment for the Belene NPP to Ukraine in connection with a decision of the National Assembly of July 2023. According to Minister Malinov, the Bulgarian side will take the necessary steps to implement the process in the shortest possible time.

The issue of providing alternative gas supplies to Ukraine after the suspension of the transportation of Russian natural gas through Ukrainian territory was also discussed. "The implementation of the Vertical Gas Corridor initiative is of strategic importance for energy security in the region of South-Eastern Europe. The upgrade of the already existing infrastructure will allow the transfer of additional volumes of alternative supplies to Ukraine," Malinov emphasized during the meeting. According to him, the Vertical Corridor will ensure continued operation of the gas transmission network and underground gas storages in Ukraine.