Bulgaria warns of new gas crisis

Bulgarian Economy and Energy Minister Dragomir Stoynev warned on the 6 November 2013 of a possible repeat of the 2009 gas crisis as a result of the intensified conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Stoynev said that the pretext for a new gas crisis was Kiev's outstanding debt of some $900 million (€666 million) to Russian gas exporters Gazprom. The Bulgarian minister added that the real reason there could be a gas crisis was Ukraine's plan to sign an association agreement with the EU at the 28-29 November 2013 Vilnius summit.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Gazprom reinstates Ukrainian tycoon as gas broker http://www.europeansources.info/record/gazprom-reinstates-ukrainian-tycoon-as-gas-broker/

ESO: Background information: EU-Ukraine: Dispelling the Myths About the Association Agreement http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-ukraine-dispelling-the-myths-about-the-association-agreement/

Euractiv, 12.11.13: Ukraine raises the stakes in gas gamble with Russia http://www.euractiv.com/energy/ukraine-raises-stakes-gas-gamble-news-531609

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