Bulgaria rejecting new gas payments leads to higher prices - TASS

Bulgaria's refusal of the new gas payment system proposed by Russia will undoubtedly result in higher pricing for end customers, a senior Russian diplomat said in an interview with TASS.

"Questionable and expensive schemes are being imposed on Bulgaria, which will make profit for US corporations and all kinds of intermediaries. The rise in prices for end consumers is inevitable, but Russia is being unreasonably accused of using ‘gas as a weapon’, as it is now popular," said Yuri Pilipson, the head of the Fourth European Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

The diplomat noted that Bulgaria, which "strived to become a gas hub for the Balkans and all of Europe, is urgently looking for alternative sources and routes for importing blue fuel". "Promises have been made to make up the deficit by purchasing liquefied natural gas in the United States and reserving capacity at the Greek terminal to accept it," he added.

Russia is witnessing "official Sofia's attempts to absorb a heavy blow that the authorities themselves inflicted on the Bulgarian economy and social sphere by engaging in anti-Russian sanctions by radically interpreting the EU approaches, including the rejection of the natural gas payment mechanism proposed by Russia," he added.

Pilipson stressed that the gas payment method proposed by Russia is "transparent and simple". "Many European companies are already successfully using it. It is up to the Bulgarian authorities to decide whether to switch to a new payment system in order to receive fuel on time, in full, and at a reasonable price, or abandon the innovation to the detriment of ordinary citizens and to please foreign capital. As for Russia, we remain an honest and reliable supplier. And buyers must also conduct themselves in a professional manner," he added.