Minister Malinov from Istanbul: Connectivity between energy producers and consumers will guarantee the security of the region
The Bulgarian minister once again raised the issue of renegotiating the agreement between the companies "Bulgargaz" and "Botaş"
"Energy is the backbone of every economy and is the basis of the security of countries. Thanks to the strengthening of the strategic partnership at the regional level, we will be better coordinated and will have common solutions and answers to address the challenges in the energy sector. Investments and better connectivity between the producing regions and the consuming regions of natural gas and green energy will guarantee energy security. In this way, consumers and businesses will have affordable and predictable energy supplies." This was stated by the Minister of Energy Vladimir Malinov to the participants in the ministerial session of the first Istanbul Energy Forum. The event is organized by the Anatolian Agency and the Turkish Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources. It was attended by the President of the Republic of Turkey, H.E. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of the Republic of Turkey, Dr. Alparslan Bayraktar, the Minister of Energy of Azerbaijan, Parviz Shahbazob, the Minister of Oil and Natural Gas of Libya, Dr. Khalifa Abdulsadeq, the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, Levan Devitashvili, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary, Péter Szijjártó, the Minister of Mining and Energy of Serbia, Dubravka Handanović, the Minister of Energy of Uzbekistan, Dzhurabek Mirzamahmudov, and the Minister of Energy of Moldova, Viktor Parlikov.
He reminded the participants of the conference that during COP29, Bulgaria announced an informal document to promote energy connectivity dialogues. “Improving the connectivity of the electricity transmission in the South-North corridor and integrating renewable energy into the system will also ensure more affordable energy for consumers in the region,” he said.
The Bulgarian Energy Minister organized a quadrilateral meeting to discuss his new initiative for a separate energy corridor between Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey and Bulgaria for the transmission of green energy. During the meeting, Minister Vladimir Malinov and his colleagues - the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of Turkey Dr. Alparslan Bayraktar, the Azerbaijani Minister of Energy Parviz Shahbazov and the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia Levan Davitashvili - were categorical that the joint activities of the countries will guarantee energy security and affordable prices for consumers in the region. During a bilateral meeting, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto expressed the Hungarian side's support for Bulgaria's accession to the Intergovernmental Agreement between the Green Corridor, as well as readiness to join Minister Malinov's initiative for a second corridor.
Within the framework of the forum, Minister Malinov held a bilateral meeting with Turkish Energy Minister Dr. Alparslan Bayraktar. The two discussed the development of bilateral energy relations between the countries in all areas of mutual interest as a basis for energy security in the region. The main focus of the conversation was the increase in electricity and gas connectivity between the two countries. Malinov once again raised the issue of renegotiating the agreement between the companies "Bulgargaz" EAD and "Botaş". They agreed that expert talks between the companies continue in a constructive spirit.