We have not received any request from Russia to pay the value of gas imported from it in rubles

Bulgarian Energy Minister Alexander Nikolov announced that his country had not received any official notification from Moscow to pay the value of Russian gas imported to Bulgaria in rubles.

“Neither “Bulgargaz”, “Bolgartrangaz”, the Ministry of Energy, nor the Bulgarian Energy Holding Company have received any notification of this,” Nikolov said in an interview with BTV.

He added that Bulgaria’s partners are looking for solutions to pay for gas in rubles, but this does not mean that payment will be made in rubles.

“It is quite logical that we are looking for options to solve this problem, but this does not mean that our country will pay in the Russian currency for blue fuel,” he added.

In response to a question about what would happen if the European Union decided not to accept payments in rubles, he said: “After imposing certain sanctions and taking a collective decision, it is normal for Bulgaria to comply with it.”

He added that the issues of liquefied gas supplies are under discussion with companies from Egypt, Libya and the United States, but he admitted the impossibility of finding an alternative in the foreseeable future.