Bulgaria Submits National Plan for Diversification of Natural Gas Supplies to European Commission

Bulgaria has submitted its national plan for diversification of natural gas supplies to the European Commission, the Energy Ministry’s press office said on May 7. The document was drafted under a new EU regulation on phasing out imports of Russian gas and sets out a strategy for secure, sustainable and competitive supplies based on alternative sources, new routes and upgraded infrastructure.

The plan puts a strong focus on developing the Vertical Gas Corridor, expanding interconnectors, increasing the capacity of the Chiren underground gas storage facility and securing access to international LNG markets.

By drafting the plan, Bulgaria took a proactive approach and contributed to the shared European goal of energy independence and resilience, caretaker Energy Minister Traicho Traikov said. He added that the document reinforced the country’s leading role in ensuring energy security for the economies and citizens of Europe.

The European Commission was told that Bulgaria was already implementing key measures, including infrastructure projects, system flexibility optimization and mechanisms for coordination between institutions and operators. The plan notes that the steps taken fully follow the principles of solidarity and the free movement of gas within the EU.

With this strategic document, Bulgaria is acting in a timely and consistent way and in full line with European goals, turning diversification into a real, measurable and sustainable policy, Traikov said. He added that the country had specific projects, clear deadlines and a stable vision for the future of the energy system.

Submitting the plan underlines Bulgaria’s role as a reliable partner in the region’s energy architecture and an active participant in building modern, connected and competitive infrastructure. The document sends a clear signal that the country is working consistently to reduce dependencies, improve security of supply and strengthen the resilience of the European energy market.

By presenting the national plan, Bulgaria reaffirmed its commitment to shared European goals and showed it is turning political priorities into concrete actions with a real impact for the country and the region, the ministry’s press release said.