A unit of French energy giant TotalEnergies will supply liquefied natural gas (LNG) in January-February to Bulgaria’s Bulgargaz via Turkey following the completion of a recent tender.
According to a statement by Bulgargaz, the unit of state-owned Bulgarian Energy Holding, TotalEnergies Gas and Power “is the participant ranked first” in the tender launched earlier this month seeking the supply of LNG in January-February 2024.
Bulgargaz said that in total nine international firms participated in this tender.
The firm did not reveal the names of the other companies.
Moreover, Bulgargaz said it evaluated and ranked the proposals “in accordance with the criteria set out in the evaluation methodology – delivery price and method of payment and prepared a report with a proposal for the conclusion of an agreement with the participant ranked in first place.”
The company “foresees deliveries during these months amounting to 1,000,000 MWh/month to be delivered to regasification terminals in Turkey,” it said.
Bulgargaz launched this tender on October 9 seeking in total 4 TWh of LNG, or 13,600,000 MMBtu on a DES basis over January, February, July, and August.
Botas deal
Earlier this year, US LNG exporting giant Cheniere delivered the first cargo to Bullgargaz to the Marmara Ereglisi onshore terminal in Turkey as part of the latter’s deal with Botas.
Botas and Bulgargaz signed the deal in January, allowing Bulgargaz access to Turkish LNG import terminals and the grid.
The duration of the agreement is 13 years and includes a gas transfer of up to 1.5 billion cubic meters per year.
Bulgargaz said in a recent statement that it has received questions from the European Commission Directorate General for Competition, regarding the supply of natural gas to Bulgaria.
“The time period the questions refer to covers the last few years and the information requested focuses on the relations with suppliers and partners as well as details of supplies,” it said.
Besides Turkey, Bulgargaz imports LNG via DESFA’s import terminal located on the island of Revithoussa in Greece.
It also booked additional capacity at Gastrade’s FSRU-based LNG import project in Alexandroupolis, which is expected to launch operations this winter.
Bulgartransgaz has a 20 percent in the LNG import project.