The transit of Russian gas through Bulgaria’s TurkStream-BalkanStream pipeline reached a historic high in January, following Ukraine’s decision to halt the transit of Russian gas via its territory.
According to data from the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Gas (ENTSOG), Russian gas supplies through the Bulgarian pipeline surged by 26.7% in January 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, marking a record high.
The pipeline, which carries Russian gas across Bulgaria, was constructed during the third term of former Prime Minister Boyko Borissov. Known as TurkStream in Turkey, it is referred to as BalkanStream in Bulgaria.
The Bulgarian section, operational since 1 January 2021, cost 2.15 billion leva (€1.1 billion) to build.
With a capacity of 15.75 billion cubic metres, the pipeline is now the sole active route for Russian gas to Europe, supplying countries such as Serbia, Romania, Greece, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Hungary. Following the suspension of transit via Ukraine on 1 January, the pipeline began receiving additional volumes of gas.
Although Bulgaria no longer purchases Russian gas for its own consumption, the country benefits significantly from transit revenues. In 2024, approximately 15 billion cubic metres of gas passed through the pipeline, according to data from the European Council on Foreign Relations.
ENTSOG confirmed that despite the increased volumes, the technical capacity of the Bulgarian-Serbian border has not yet been fully utilised. Gazprom has booked nearly all available capacity until 2039.
The Bulgarian section of TurkStream is currently exempt from the sanctions until 20 March 2025. Following that date, a new payment mechanism will need to be established.
If no solution is found, countries in the region could face severe gas shortages. Hungary, in particular, which has not diversified its gas supplies, risks being left without access to gas entirely.
