Oil Pipeline Agreement Signed Between Greece and Bulgaria
An agreement was signed between Greece and Bulgaria for the oil pipeline to be located between the Greek cities of Alexandroupoli and the Bulgarian city of Burgas.
Bulgarian President Rumen Radev and Greek Prime Minister Kiryakos Mitsotakis met in Athens, the capital city, for the Bulgarian oil pipeline to be located between the Greek cities of Alexandroupoli and Burgas. The agreement, which was prepared after the meeting, was signed in the presence of Radev and Mitsotakis by Greek Energy Minister Kostas Skrekas and Bulgarian Energy Minister Rossen Hristov in Athens Maximos Palace. The security of the pipeline, which will be implemented by the Kopelouzo company, will also be provided by a joint security unit between the two countries. The capacity of the pipeline, which is planned to carry 10 million tons of oil per year, is 50 million tons.
“The energy map of Southeast Europe will change”
In a statement after the signing of the agreement, Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis stated that Greece and Bulgaria will have a critical importance in Europe’s energy security and said, “This cooperation will continue for the benefit of our people. With this signed agreement, the energy map of Southeast Europe will change.”
“It will bring strategic importance to our country”
Bulgarian President Radev said, “Bulgaria and Greece have proven to be strategic centers of stability in Southeast and Central Europe. This agreement will change the energy map of the region. The Alexandroupoli-Burgas pipeline will bring strategic importance to our country. Because it will carry Russian oil to the Balkans and the Black Sea. The agreement will also increase security of supply, as it eliminates long waiting times and risks for tankers passing through the Istanbul and Dardanelles Straits.”
The oil pipeline project, designed to transport Russian oil to the Mediterranean via the Alexandroupolis Port without using the Istanbul and Dardanelles Straits, came to the fore in 2007, but was canceled in 2011 due to Bulgaria’s disapproval of the project. After the Russia-Ukraine War, it is planned to transport oil and natural gas from Alexandroupoli to Burgas with this project.
