Turkey-Bulgaria LNG Deal Opens Quiet Corner of Europe Gas Market

Turkey gave Bulgaria access to its liquefied natural gas terminals, opening up a tightly controlled corner of the European gas market that could help diversify the region’s supply mix.

Bulgaria’s state-owned Bulgargaz EAD will be able to import LNG via Turkey’s terminals and grid for 13 years, under a deal signed in Sofia on Tuesday. Bulgaria will be able to use a total capacity of around 1.5 billion cubic meters annually, Turkish Energy Minister Fatih Donmez told reporters. If fulfilled, the capacity meets about half of Bulgaria’s domestic demand.