Energy Security Analyses at the Black Sea in the New Context of Insecurity

Any analysis of vulnerabilities, risks and threats to the security of a state must start from a simple reality - global hydrocarbon reserves are gradually being reduced, and other energy powerful states continue to remain the main sources of energy deficit coverage. Bulgaria, like other european countries, it is and remains dependent on the import of energy resources only if no new important oil and gas deposits will be discovered and exploited at the Black Sea, nuclear and renewable energy will not gain a greater share in the energy mix, investment in the national energy industry will not increase and EU energy policy is pushing for the closure of coal-fired power plants. To these are added the generally high prices that Moscow practices, through Gazprom, for oil and gas deliveries to the European market or other threats less relevant to our analysis. Therefore, the most important threat that can have a critical impact on the national economy and the objectives of economic and social development and security is the reduction/sistration of hydrocarbon supplies from external sources. To this is added certain actions of foreign companies to ensure control over some national energy resources, production and distribution capacities or other critical infrastructure in the energy field, which may have a marginal impact on the development of the Romanian economy and society. The authors set out to analyse Bulgaria's state of energy security (hydrocarbon resources, coal, gas and electricity security supply) and to find optimal variants that would bring about a substantial improvement in national security and good living.