The use of natural gas in Bulgaria began in 1963 with the discovery of a gas field near the village of Chiren in the northwestern part of the country. The gas field had limited resources and was used only for the needs of two cement and chemical plants.
The actual development of the natural gas market in Bulgaria began in the mid-1970s. Then the national gas transportation system was built to supply natural gas from the former USSR.
In 1974 the already depleted gas field near the village of Chiren was reconstructed into an underground gas storage. At that time the state company "Neft i gaz" was founded. It was a monopolist in the extraction, import, transport and distribution of natural gas in the country. Its successor is Bulgargaz. In December 1975 the company was renamed “Gas Supply”. At the beginning of 1990, the company changed its name again to Bulgargaz, and by order of the Council of Ministers of 12 May 1993, it was transformed into a sole joint stock company. Bulgargaz remained with this status until the end of 2006. Then, in compliance with the requirements of the Energy Act of the Republic of Bulgaria and Directive 2003/55/EC of the European Parliament and the Council on common rules for the internal market of natural gas, Bulgargaz was transformed in organisational and legal terms. On 15.01.2007 the Sofia City Court registered the transformation of Bulgargaz into Bulgargaz Holding, the new structure including Bulgartransgaz, Bulgargaz and Bulgartel. The capital of the three subsidiaries is 100% owned by Bulgargaz-Holding.
Bulgargaz retains its role as a public natural gas supplier, while Bulgartransgaz remains a combined natural gas operator.
On 18.09.2008 by the Decision of the Minister of Economy and Energy Bulgargaz Holding was renamed, and Bulgarian Energy Holding (BEH) was established. Bulgarian Energy Holding has 100% state participation, and its principal is the Ministry of Economy and Energy.
The newly established holding includes all state-owned energy companies, each maintaining its operational autonomy and licenses. All of these entities are 100% owned and are under the direct authority of the corporate centre, BEH. The holding company now separates the distinct roles of the independent companies - Bulgartransgaz, tasked with the transmission, transit and storage of natural gas, while Bulgargaz continues its role as a public supplier engaged in the purchase and sale of natural gas.
INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE GAS MARKET IN BULGARIA
- August 7, 1974, 4:30 p.m. – The first quantities of Russian natural gas flow into Bulgarian territory.
- September 1, 1974 – The Soviet Union - Bulgaria gas pipeline is officially commissioned.
- 1988 – The first quantities of natural gas are delivered to Turkey.
- 1994 – The first quantities of natural gas are delivered to Greece.
- 1995 – The first quantities of natural gas are delivered to North Macedonia.
- 2017 – The first quantities of natural gas are delivered to Romania via the Bulgaria-Romania Interconnector.
- 2017 – The interconnection point of the Bulgarian and Greek gas transmission networks IP Kulata/Sidirokastro is reversed.
- 2018 – The first quantities of commercial natural gas are delivered from Greece to Bulgaria.
- 2019 – The introduction of the first LNG deliveries to Bulgaria via IP Kulata/Sidirokastro.
- 2019 – The launch of the natural gas trading platform of Gas Hub Balkan.
- 2021 – The start of operations of the natural gas Interconnector Bulgaria-Greece.
- 2023 – The start of operations of the Bulgaria - Serbia gas pipeline.