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The transit tax on Russian gas will not raise the price for consumers

Photo: balkangashub.bg
The Bulgarian Ministry of Finance has spread the assurance of Minister Asen Vassilev that gas for consumers in Serbia and Hungary will not become more expensive due to the tax introduced by Bulgaria on the transmission and transit of Russian natural gas in the amount of 10 euros per megawatt hour. "The levy is fully in line with the EU's goals of reducing dependence on Russian fossil fuels. As most of Gazprom's contracts are determined at the point of delivery in the respective country, the levy is unlikely to affect downstream gas prices. It will only reduce Gazprom's profits, says Vassilev.

Hungary and Serbia issued a joint statement against Sofia's decision. This "controversial step" puts the energy security of the two countries at risk, said Serbian Finance Minister Sinissa Mali and Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó, quoted by the TANJUG agency. They define the Bulgarian arguments as untenable because the EU has not introduced sanctions against the use of natural gas by Russia.

Budapest and Belgrade will coordinate their positions and "will not leave this hostile Bulgarian decision without an appropriate response", the announcement also states.



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