The Ministry of Environment and Water (MoEW) thoroughly appraised the report, in which pipeline proponent Trans Bulkan Pipeline (TBP) had provided additional information to satisfy the information needs of the MoEW in particular with respect to the planned crude oil unloading facilities in Burgas.
During the appraisal period, since the Greek environmental social impact assessment (ESIA) had already passed the quality check by the Greek Ministry of Environment (MEECC), the next steps for TBP will be public disclosure of the ESIA documents in both Bulgaria and Greece, followed by public hearings in both countries.
This will include facilitation of transboundary disclosure and consultation in line with European Union (EU) standards and best international practice. TBP will follow the instructions received on 4 November 2011 at a co-ordination meeting between all parties, which was hosted by MoEW and included Greek MEECC and EU representatives.
The Burgas to Alexandroupolis project was launched in implementation of the agreement between the governments of the Russian Federation, the Republic of Bulgaria, and the Hellenic Republic relating to the co-operation in the construction and the operation of the Burgas to Alexandroupolis oil pipeline.
The priority goal of the project is to create a new reliable and environmentally safe oil supply route for Europe, which will both help relieve the congested Bosporus and Dardanelles straits and increase European energy security.
The implementation of the project will create a new transportation route for shipping Russian and Caspian origin crude oil by tankers from Russian Black Sea ports to the port of Burgas in Bulgaria, and then via the pipeline to the port of Alexandroupolis in Greece, with further loading onto tankers and delivery to the European and world markets.
The possible throughput capacity of the pipeline at the first stage is to be around 35 MMt/a with the possibility to increase up to 50 MMt/a.
