Bulgaria will suspend transit of Russian natural gas under short-term contracts beginning in 2026, Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov announced, aligning Sofia with the European Union’s accelerated timeline to end gas imports from Russia. He said Bulgaria, having been largely dependent on Russian gas until 2022, is now seeking “use or transit” contracts for Russian gas to be terminated in the short term (2026) and to fully exclude Russian gas from its energy market by 2028.
Zhelyazkov made the statement during the UN General Assembly in New York, pointing out that Bulgaria has already diversified its supply sources. He said that current gas demand—both for industry and households—is being met by liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports via specialized terminals and advantageous contracts already secured for upcoming months. The Neftochim refinery, which formerly processed Russian crude, is no longer using Russian oil after the lifting of an EU derogation.
The announcement reflects Bulgaria’s intention to join broader EU measures pushing for energy independence from Russia. The EU had originally planned to end Russian gas imports by 2027, but in light of changing geopolitical and energy security calculations, has moved that timeline forward. Analysts say ending transit under short-term contracts in 2026 could affect downstream countries which rely on gas transiting through Bulgaria—especially Serbia and Hungary—though Bulgaria emphasises that the change will not jeopardise its own supply. Bulgaria’s transit revenues from the Balkan Stream pipeline, which carries Russian gas through Bulgaria to Serbia and Hungary, have previously yielded substantial sums—but the move signals a swift shift in policy as EU states push for complete phase-out by 2028.
While the plan remains to suspend short-term “use or transit” contracts in 2026, the mechanics of how current contracts will be unwound, what compensation—if any—will be paid, and how transit obligations to neighbouring states will be handled, have not been fully detailed. The government insists the market is sufficiently supplied now to absorb those changes without major disruptions.
