The EC officially notified the Bulgarian side that the investigation into the agreements with Botas has been concluded without any violations found

The Directorate-General for Competition of the European Commission officially notified Bulgargaz EAD and Bulgartransgaz EAD that the case regarding the agreements concluded between the Bulgarian companies and the Turkish energy company Botas has been closed, with no conclusion on any established violation of competition.

We recall that in October 2023, the EC opened a case under Council Regulation (EC) No. 1/2003 of 16 December 2002 on the implementation of the competition rules. The subject of the investigation were the agreements concluded at the end of 2022. between Bulgargaz, Botas and Bulgartransgaz for the supply of liquefied natural gas to terminals in Turkey and the reservation of capacity at the interconnection points between Bulgaria and Turkey. In this regard, the Directorate-General for Competition of the European Commission sent questions to Bulgargaz EAD and Bulgartransgaz EAD. The two companies provided full cooperation to the EC authorities, all requested documents and comprehensive answers to all questions were submitted.

With its letter to the two Bulgarian companies – Bulgargaz and Bulgartransgaz, the EC confirms that the investigation has been closed, without a conclusion on an established infringement.