Sofia: Russia's Prime Minister has urged Bulgaria to obtain firm guarantees that the European Commission will not obstruct plans for a pipeline project to transport Russian natural gas through Bulgaria to Serbia.
Dmitry Medvedev on Monday discussed in Sofia with his Bulgarian counterpart Boyko Borissov energy issues including a possible extension of the Turk Stream gas pipeline through Bulgaria and the construction of a second nuclear power plant in the Balkan country.
Bulgaria hopes to expand its gas transport system by constructing a 484-kilometer (300-miles) pipeline to transit Russian gas from the border with Turkey to Serbia.
Medvedev expressed his hope for taking "concrete steps" toward realising the project, adding "when the European Commission provides reliable guarantees that this project will not collapse in the future and will not face any obstacles."
In 2014, Moscow was forced by EU competition rules to scrap a similar project, the South Stream pipeline, and Bulgaria halted construction work on its territory.
Greece is considered to be an alternative option for transiting Russian gas from Turk Stream to Europe.
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(With inputs from APTN)
