Martin Vladimirov: The case with the contract with Botash is complicated and there is no way to cancel the contract
If the contract with "Botash" is not fulfilled, our country may pay BGN 4 billion
We don't have many options when it comes to renegotiating terms with Botash. We are currently paying for something we are not getting. At least let's start importing liquefied natural gas from Turkey. This was stated by Martin Vladimirov, from the Center for the Study of Democracy, to bTV. Botash is known to buy a lot of Russian gas, and in practice this is an agreement that allows Russia to re-enter European territory. All of us, the taxpayers, will pay for this, Vladimirov believes.
We remind you that this week the negotiations with the Turkish company "Botash" are coming up with the aim of revising the contract that Galab Donev's office signed with the company. The negotiations are expected to be held in Sofia following an invitation from Energy Minister Vladimir Malinov.
Parliament has already demanded that the energy minister negotiate new terms under the contract. Last week, it became known in the National Assembly that "Botash" is rejecting the Bulgarian desire for change. In a letter available to the television, the following arguments are stated: "The proposed amendment is not acceptable, as it aims to disrupt the basic dynamics of the contract, which would make its implementation unfeasible for Botash." It should also be emphasized that failure to pay would be a material breach of contract with serious consequences.
According to the director of the CID, there is no way to cancel the contract. If we go to arbitration, we will have to pay everything - over BGN 4 billion. In this scenario, Bulgargaz will go bankrupt. The case is very complicated and can drag on for years, and there is no way to predict what could happen, Vladimirov recalled.
The contract was signed under the conditions of a Russian military operation in Ukraine and gas supplies to our country from Gazprom were suspended. The caretaker government at the time described the contract for access to Turkey's LNG infrastructure as very successful.