Price formation under the agreement between the Bulgarian Bulgargaz and the Turkish state-owned oil and gas company Botas is not detrimental to the Bulgarian state or to the Bulgarian public provider, Energy Minister Rumen Radev said during a hearing in parliament, in answer to a question about the agreement between the two companies signed, on the Bulgarian side by the previous caretaker cabinet, on 3 January, 2023.

• Bulgarian government approves agreement between Bulgargaz and Turkey's Botas

In his words, Bulgargaz has clear control of the origin of the natural gas via the certificates it receives directly from the gas trader, not from Botas, but the agreement is in effect until 2035, and the conditions for its termination are severe. There are quite a few binding commitments under the agreement between Bulgargaz and Botas, but there is also a certain amount of freedom which we are hoping will allow Bulgaria to negotiate better conditions during the current negotiations with the Turkish company, Minister Radev said.