09.06.2025

At the 30th anniversary edition of the Baku Energy Forum, Bulgaria was represented at a high level. Iva Petrova, Deputy Minister of Energy of the Republic of Bulgaria, participated in the panel “Global Cooperation for a Resilient and Sustainable Energy Future”, where she shared the significant successes of our country in the diversification of natural gas sources.

Gergana Manolova, Director of International Cooperation at M-Gas, also participated in the panel “Securing Energy Supply”. She participated together with distinguished experts such as Zoltan Rahoty from MVM CEEnergy and Luca Schiepati from TAP.

At the center of Ms. Manolova’s speech was the topic of hybrid gasification and the innovative approach of compressed natural gas (CNG) supply with cross-border cooperation. She highlighted how this model could significantly improve and strengthen the gas market in Bulgaria. During her participation, Gergana Manolova also shared details on the areas of activity of the companies and social facilities in Bulgaria that receive natural gas from Azerbaijan thanks to the strategic partnership between M-Gas and SOCAR.

“Thanks to SOCAR’s regional sales office for the Balkans, positioned in Sofia, M-Gas is deepening our cooperation and exploring new future prospects. This year we aim to increase the number of social facilities without access to the gas distribution network, to which natural gas will reach through hybrid gasification,” she said.

During the forum, within the framework of Baku Energy Week 2-4 June, M-Gas representatives also held a high-level meeting with Rovshan Najaf, SOCAR President, Vice President Elshad Nasirov, Vice President Vitaly Baylarbayov, Head of SOCAR Regional Representation for the Balkans Murad Heydarov, as well as other representatives of the Azerbaijani company. This constructive meeting reaffirmed the strategic energy partnership between Azerbaijan and Bulgaria. It provided an opportunity to highlight the successful cooperation in the supply of natural gas to the industrial sector in Bulgaria. The two sides also exchanged views on a number of key issues related to bilateral energy cooperation.

The partnership is already yielding visible results. In 2024, SOCAR, through M-Gas, managed to take the fourth place in terms of volumes supplied in the Bulgarian gas distribution market. M-Gas’ ambitious plans foresee even more significant growth. By the end of the first half of 2025, the company is expected to climb to third place, and by the end of 2025 to take second place in terms of volume supplied to the Bulgarian gas market.

In addition to developing the Bulgarian market, M-Gas’ plans include sharing the company’s nearly 20 years of experience in implementing the hybrid gasification model in North Macedonia. The move could contribute to energy security and gas infrastructure development in the region.