Turkey has sent its first shipment of natural gas to Bulgaria as part of an agreement to diversify southeast Europe's supply mix away from Russia. The move is aimed at increasing Turkey's credibility as a hub for gas and providing Bulgaria with alternative supply routes.
Bulgaria has been trying to reduce its reliance on Russian gas since the invasion of Ukraine, but has faced challenges due to limited access to international markets. However, in January, Turkey granted Bulgaria access to its liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals, opening up alternative supply routes for its neighbour.
The shipment of 55 million cubic meters of LNG was sourced from US exporter Cheniere Energy Inc. and sent across the border via pipeline, according to Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency. The January agreement, with a maximum capacity of 1.5 billion cubic meters – about half of Bulgaria's annual consumption – could be increased if demand requires, said Burhan Ozcan, head of Turkey's state gas company Botas.
Turkey is currently balancing its trade ties with the US and Russia as it strives to become a trade and transport hub for gas. The country is buying fuel from both and building up its infrastructure at home to support its ambitions. The move to send natural gas to Bulgaria is a significant step towards achieving this goal and reducing the region's reliance on Russia for gas supplies.