SOFIA, 4 Jan. (DPA/EP) –
The Government of Bulgaria has approved this Wednesday a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Energy of Greece to build a joint oil pipeline and ensure the energy supply of both states of the European Union.
The document, signed between the energy ministries of both countries, reflects the mutual willingness to work towards the construction of an oil pipeline connecting the Greek port city of Alexandroupolis, in the Aegean Sea, with the Bulgarian city of Burgas, in the Black Sea coast.
This route would make it possible to bring crude oil from non-Russian sources into Bulgaria, since the only Bulgarian crude oil refinery is located near Burgas. Sofia withdrew from a similar project in 2011 due to environmental concerns following climate protests.
Plans at the time described how crude oil from Russia, among other sources, would have flowed in the opposite direction, namely towards Alexandroupolis. The pipeline would have crossed a nature reserve in southeastern Bulgaria, hence the demonstrations by environmental organizations.
