SOFIA, Bulgaria, Jan. 21 (UPI) -- The Bulgarian energy minister called on lawmakers to back the Nabucco natural gas pipeline with state funds, saying it was in the country's best interest.
Bulgarian Economy and Energy Minister Traicho Traikov told members of Parliament that Sofia could support Nabucco using loans taken by state-funded Bulgarian Energy Holding, the Sofia Echo reports.
The European community aims to break the Russian grip on the regional energy sector by using Nabucco to transport Central Asian and Middle Eastern gas supplies.
"I'd like for Bulgaria to be independent from a single energy source," he told lawmakers. "I would like you to continue your support for the implementation of major energy projects if they are in Bulgaria's national interest."
The current Bulgarian government hasn't used state funds to back energy projects since taking office in 2009.
The European Commission last week signed a declaration on gas delivery with Azeri President Illham Aliyev in Baku. Lawmakers described the agreement as a "major breakthrough" for European energy security.
Reinhard Mitschek, managing director of the Nabucco pipeline consortium in Vienna, said in a statement the declaration "serves to pave the way to the full implementation of Nabucco by providing a firm political basis for gas supply from Azerbaijan."
