Bulgaria may pay its installment as a shareholder in the Bourgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline project, but its decision will come after the environmental impact assessment is out, the finance ministry told daily Dnevnik in response to an inquiry.

"The issue related to the country's obligations under the project, as well as their redemption, will be discussed after the release of the environmental impact assessment report. Only then Bulgaria will commit itself to any further action," according to the statement.

The first report concerning the eco impact of Bourgas-Alexandroupolis, drafted by the project company that will build the Bulgarian section of the pipeline, Trans Balkan Pipeline, was submitted to the environment ministry in late 2010. Мinistry officials, however, concluded that the assessment had considerable gaps and returned it for revision.

The amended report should be presented by the end of February, environment minister Nona Karadjova said last Thursday.

Earlier that day, Russia and Greece, the other two shareholders in the oil pipeline project, demanded from Bulgaria to pay its obligation of EUR 7.5 million (USD 10.3m) following a meeting in Rome between the shareholders and the supervisory board of the project company.