Bulgaria says Russia gas supplies halted

Supplies of Russian gas via Ukraine to Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey stopped flowing on Tuesday because of a dispute between Moscow and Kiev over gas prices, officials in Sofia said.

“As of 3.30 a.m. (0130 GMT) supplies … to Bulgaria as well as the transit to Turkey, Greece and Macedonia have been suspended,” Bulgaria’s Economy Ministry said in a statement. “We are in a crisis situation.”
There was no immediate confirmation from Turkey, Greece or Macedonia of a halt in supplies. Turkey has an alternative route for importing Russian gas, under the Black Sea.

South-east Europe and the Balkans receive their Russian gas from a pipeline which passes from Ukraine via Bulgaria, so officials in Sofia are likely to be the first to see signs of a cut-off.

In Kiev, Ukrainian state energy Naftogaz firm said Russia had cut gas supply via Ukraine to Europe to about a third of its normal flow. “This means that in a few hours Europe will face a problem with gas supplies,” said a Naftogaz spokesman.

Reuters