As part of the ESIA procedure, the Ministry made comments on the document and pointed out some questions requiring additional clarification.
The second stage of the ESIA review should start two months after the comments are received, and will take up to 30 days. After that, pipeline operator Trans-Balkan Pipeline will conduct public consultations in the affected Bulgarian communities.
The Bulgarian Minister of Environment and Water is expected to make a final statement on the ESIA within 45 days after the last public consultations are held.
German engineering company, ILF Consulting Engineers, is carrying out the ESIA in co-operation with international and local consultancies and experts.