Bulgaria intends to continue as a priority project the construction of the South Stream gas pipeline in full compliance with European law, according to the "Government Programme on Sustainable Development of Bulgaria for the period from 2014 to 2018", approved on Wednesday, January 21.
Sofia takes this position due to the lack of formal notification of the EU to halt construction of the pipeline. "Till now, we have not seen an official notice of termination of the project, and for this reason it remains in our management program," Lenta.ru cited the Deputy Prime Minister of Bulgaria, Rumyana Bachvarova.
The construction of the gas pipeline "South Stream" was suspended on December 1 after the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin in Ankara. Russia intends to build new pipeline systems aimed at other markets, including Turkey's.
The head of Gazprom, Alexei Miller, and Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak have also spoken about the closure of the project. Closing the project has caused discontent in Budapest and Belgrade.
At the same time, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov said that his government will insist on the implementation of the project. In January 2015 he announced plans to build a gas hub, which should become a rival project to Gazprom.
