Truck vignette on the way only for cars – MPs listened to the signators with « botash »

After a break for more than a month, the MPs ended the hearing of the involvement in the signing of the 13-year contract between Bulgargaz and the Turkish company Botash. The negotiations on it were held at Christmas in 2022, and in early 2023 it was signed. At that time, the office of Dove Donev, appointed by President Rumen Radev, was the office of the dove. There was no active National Assembly as it was dissolved before the next early elections.

Former Energy Minister Rosen Hristov denied it was corruption in signing a contract and motivates the need for him by throwing the blame for the next ruling ones that they did not use it to win the state from it. President Rumen Radev denied that he had put pressure on his signing. With a hurry, he explained his signature under the document instead of the Executive Director of Bulgargaz.

Hearing

Hristov announced that this was the only option at that time to sign a contract for the supply of Norusk natural gas. He also defended the contract by the fact that both state and European level there was a decision to supply only non -Russian gas, and at that time the delivery through the other liquefied gas terminal in Greece was exhausted and the free slots were traded at very high prices. He pointed out that Bulgaria received congratulations from many European countries that with this contract it provided a vertical gas corridor – north -south for the delivery of non -Russian raw material.

« In my face categorically, the President did not put pressure … This is not about pressure, but about help in negotiations that were initiated by us in connection with the desire of a large part of those present here (MPs – ed. Terminals, you have accused me.

In the course of the hearing, Hristov repeatedly declared himself a victim of political persecution and threatened to bring a case to the European Court of Human Rights, stating that the questions would be with his lawyers in the future.

Laughing in the hall caused both his law and explaining why he signed the contract, not the director of Bulgargaz. He explained that he was traveling by car and then the director of the company Denitsa Zlateva – by plane, which is why, in order not to miss the flight while waiting for the contract to be printed, he had to sign it. The MP of « We continue the change – Democratic Bulgaria », said that this determined the price of the aircraft in question from over BGN 4 billion and could have been detained in order to sign the director under the contract.

Bankrupt

During the hearing, both the words of the signator and those of the current Energy Minister Zhecho Stankov were learned that the contract could not be terminated, and so far, unsuccessful attempts have been made to be renegotiated. The termination can only be made if Bulgaria pays for the amounts provided for on it, which are about BGN 4.2 billion, and according to Stankov, they can increase up to BGN 6 billion if indexations are added to the amount. Denitsa Zlateva’s explanations have learned that during the negotiations by Burgurgas a number of changes have been proposed in the proposed conditions, including this in the middle of the period, with a notice of any of the parties, he can terminate it unilaterally. However, only one change was accepted – to increase the number of tankers delivered.

The public interim financial statement of the state -owned company to the third quarter of the previous year shows that it reports a loss of BGN 200 million, with a significant part of it due precisely to the commitments under the contract with Botash, from which the company does not form any revenue. The minister said that at the moment the evaluation is to lose the whole year to increase to BGN 300 million.

He pointed out that while GERB was in power, the company has always been profitable, and now, besides the loss, there is a loss of market share – because because of the disadvantaged contract with Botash, it cannot sell at a good price. His assessment is that to date Bulgaria does not need the services for which he pays for Botash. They will be paid without even physically we can use them.

MP Delyan Dobrev of GERB has announced that no one will ever use this contract because its price is 4 times higher than that will be paid if it goes through the Greece terminal – 2 euros at 9.50 euros through Turkey’s Terminals with Botash.

He added that Bulgargaz has been in bankruptcy for a long time. « The fact that he buried his head in the sand and did not account for Botash invoices, did not change things. He pointed out that if they enter the inspection company, the control bodies should have claimed responsibility from the Director why he has not announced it so far.