Bulgaria's Energy Security Explained — Martin Vladimirov

1. 12. 2025

In this episode, Martin Vladimirov unpacks Bulgaria’s evolving energy landscape in the aftermath of the war in Ukraine. We discuss shifts in the country’s energy mix, offshore wind prospects in the Black Sea, the strategic role of gas pipelines and interconnectors, and the future of key assets such as the Chiren gas storage facility, the Maritsa Iztok lignite complex, and potential new nuclear reactors.

Martin Vladimirov

Martin Vladimirov is Director of the Energy and Climate Program at the Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD), where his work focuses on European and Balkan energy security, energy transition pathways, and the geopolitical dimensions of Russian and Chinese economic influence. He has extensive experience as an energy analyst for The Oil and Gas Year, contributing in-depth reports on Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Saudi Arabia, and has consulted for international oil companies across the GCC and MENA regions. Martin is also an affiliated expert with the European Geopolitical Forum in Brussels and previously worked as an energy and economic analyst for CEE Market Watch, covering Iran and Central Asia.

Publications:

Managing Assets Under OFAC Sanctions

Energy and Climate Security in Europe: From Crisis Response to Structural Transformation

The Kremlin Playbook in Mexico: Asymmetric Influence

The Imperative to Weaken the Kremlin’s War Economy: What the West Can Do

Closing the backdoor: The new TurkStream is here. Can the West stop it?

Content

00:00 – Introduction
01:38 – Bulgaria’s Evolving Energy Mix after the War in Ukraine
09:07 – Exploring Bulgaria’s Offshore Wind Potential
12:45 – Strategic Energy Pipelines Crossing Bulgaria
17:16 – Bulgaria’s Relationship with Gazprom and Gas Contracts
24:14 – The Greece–Bulgaria Gas Interconnector (IGB)
27:05 – Alexandroupolis LNG Terminal and Regional Gas Connectivity
28:53 – The Role of Chiren Underground Gas Storage
34:31 – The Future of the Maritsa Iztok Lignite Power Complex
40:50 – Assessing the Feasibility of Two New Nuclear Reactors