Bulgaria increased the protection of the Balkan Stream gas pipeline

After the Ukrainian attack on the Turkish Stream gas pipeline station, Bulgaria took measures to ensure the protection of the Balkan Stream gas pipeline and other energy infrastructure facilities, the Bulgarian National Security Agency announced.

In a written response to the Euractiv portal, the agency noted that measures were also taken to suppress destructive actions.

“Measures have been taken to monitor and strengthen the protection of important critical infrastructure facilities, as well as to suppress destructive actions through effective coordination and interaction of all competent institutions in the country and established cooperation mechanisms in the EU and NATO,” the Agency’s announcement states.

After Ukraine suspended gas deliveries through its territory on January 1, Turkish Stream and Blue Stream became the only gas pipelines that bring Russian gas under the Black Sea to the European territory of Turkey.

Turkish Stream continues from Turkey through Bulgaria, where it is called the Balkan Stream, and currently supplies gas to Serbia and Hungary. Bulgaria has stopped importing Russian gas, but continues its transit according to contracts signed before Russia invaded Ukraine.

The Turkish stream, that is, the Balkan stream, is crucial for Hungary and Serbia, and after the suspension of deliveries via Ukraine, an increase in the transit of Russian gas through Bulgaria to Central Europe is expected.

Although Bulgaria does not use Turkish Stream (Balkan Stream) gas, the country earns more than 100 million euros a year from transit fees.

Russia announced on Monday that it had shot down nine Ukrainian drones that it said had tried to attack part of the infrastructure of the Turkish Stream gas pipeline, through which Russia sends gas to Turkey and then to Europe, Reuters reported.