Bulgaria Reaches Deal to Stop Paying for Unused BOTAS Gas Capacity

Bulgaria’s Energy Minister Iva Petrova announced that the renegotiation of the gas contract with Turkey’s BOTAS will prevent the state from paying for unused pipeline capacity worth about €360 million. Under a new 15‑month mechanism, Bulgargaz will pay only for the volume of gas actually delivered, removing any additional financial burden from the national budget and citizens.

The agreement, which revises a 13‑year contract signed on 3 January 2023 for up to 1.5 billion cubic metres of gas per year, aims to fully exploit the contract’s potential and strengthen regional supply security. Both parties have signed a protocol outlining the revised terms, while discussions continue on a longer‑term restructuring of the deal.

Petrova emphasized that no political conditions were attached to the commercial arrangement and that the government’s priority is to develop a clear strategy for using the reserved Turkish terminals and pipeline capacity for domestic and regional markets.