Bulgaria "is no longer interested" in the Burgas-Alexandroupolis Pipeline Project, Prime-Tass reports quoting an interview of Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov with Financial Times.
He made it clear that Bulgaria intends to pull out from the tripartite pipeline construction agreement (Russia, Turkey, Bulgaria) after ecological assessment of the project will be ready early next year.
Boyko Borisov said the recent accident at the BP’s oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico and its long-term aftermath influenced the govt. decision over the project.
"I do not think it would be safe enough to discharge oil tankers at offshore terminals in the area, which is essential for our tourism industry,” said the Bulgarian PM. “The pipeline will bring (Bulgaria) not more than 35 million euros a year in transit fees, but it would jeopardize our annual 10 billion euro of revenues, accruing from tourism."
In June, Boyko Borisov said that Sofia would not participate in the construction of this pipeline, but later clarified that the Government had not yet made a final decision on this matter and would await the results of environmental impact assessment.
The agreement on the construction of the Burgas-Alexandroupolis Oil Pipeline was signed by Russia, Greece and Bulgaria in 2007. The project was developed for the delivery of Russian oil to Greece through the Black Sea and the Aegean Sea.
He made it clear that Bulgaria intends to pull out from the tripartite pipeline construction agreement (Russia, Turkey, Bulgaria) after ecological assessment of the project will be ready early next year.
Boyko Borisov said the recent accident at the BP’s oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico and its long-term aftermath influenced the govt. decision over the project.
"I do not think it would be safe enough to discharge oil tankers at offshore terminals in the area, which is essential for our tourism industry,” said the Bulgarian PM. “The pipeline will bring (Bulgaria) not more than 35 million euros a year in transit fees, but it would jeopardize our annual 10 billion euro of revenues, accruing from tourism."
In June, Boyko Borisov said that Sofia would not participate in the construction of this pipeline, but later clarified that the Government had not yet made a final decision on this matter and would await the results of environmental impact assessment.
The agreement on the construction of the Burgas-Alexandroupolis Oil Pipeline was signed by Russia, Greece and Bulgaria in 2007. The project was developed for the delivery of Russian oil to Greece through the Black Sea and the Aegean Sea.