Cyprus and Bulgaria launch energy, renewable sources discussion

The first meeting of the technical group that was set up between Cyprus and Bulgaria to discuss the possibility of further cooperation in the field of hydrocarbons and renewable energy sources convened on Monday, it was announced by the Energy Ministers of the two countries, Yiorgos Lakkotrypis and Τemenuzhka Petkova.

In remarks after a meeting the two Ministers held in Nicosia, Lakkotrypis welcomed his Bulgarian counterpart and said it was the continuation of the President of the Republic’s visit to Bulgaria earlier this year when it was agreed to form technical groups to examine the possibility of promoting cooperation in the field of hydrocarbons and renewable energy sources.

Lakkotrypis said he exchanged views with Petkova on the prospects of energy sources in Eastern Mediterranean and the possibility that these will form a new energy corridor from Greece, Bulgaria and from there on to mainland Europe.

The Minister said they agreed that Cyprus will be informed on the results of the technical committees regarding the Alexandroupolis Independent Natural Gas System (INGS) project and the Interconnector between Greece and Bulgaria “to see the possibilities to cooperate in the field of natural gas in Eastern Mediterranean”

Renewable energy sources

They also touched upon the renewable energy sources issue and energy efficiency building, the prospects created for green energy and the challenges both sides face in this field.

“We look forward to closer cooperation for the common good of the two countries,” he added.

In her remarks, Petkova said the two countries “boast excellent relations and this excellent relationship was reconfirmed after President Anastasiades visited Bulgaria this year”. During the visit, a memorandum of understanding on cooperation between the two ministries was signed and it is an “excellent basis and ground for cooperation in the energy sector”, she said.

Speaking through an interpreter, Petkova said she was very satisfied with the mechanism to implement the contents of the memorandum, namely by creating the Joint Working Group. “Today the JWG will have its first session and during our meeting today we had the opportunity to discuss current energy issues,” she added.

Petkova informed Lakkotrypis on the progress of the Interconnector between Greece and Bulgaria as well as the desire and intention of the Bulgarian government to take part in the creation of the Alexandroupolis LNG, noting these “two projects are extremely important not only for Bulgaria but for the entire south-east European region”.

Natural gas issues

She presented to Lakkotrypis her country’s “concept of creating a gas pipe on the territory of Bulgaria and the possibility on the side of Cyprus to have a new source for this hub, namely Cyprus.”

The Bulgarian minister said they discussed renewable energy sources and energy efficiency measures as well as the conditions that one needs to fulfil in terms of EU policy.

“I believe that our successful cooperation will continue in the future,” she concluded.

Replying to a question about natural gas issues, the Energy Minister said that preparations are underway for extraction at the existing licensed fields but there are also discussions on the new round of licensing. A lot, he added, will depend on the results of the third licensing round which “we hope will be completed early next year.”

Source: CNA

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