Bulgaria eyes LNG imports from Yemen

SOFIA, Oct 17 (Reuters) - Bulgaria will hold talks over the potential import of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Yemen to diversify its gas supplies, the Bulgarian economy and energy ministry said on Friday.

Possible LNG imports were discussed during a meeting of a bilateral economic commission in Sofia earlier this week, the ministry said in a statement.

The European Union newcomer gets more than 90 percent of its gas from Russia's Gazprom (GAZP.MM) and is examining various options to diversify supplies.

A group led by French oil major Total (TOTF.PA) is building a $4 billion LNG plant in the Arabian Peninsula country and plans to start it up in early 2009. The plant will produce 6.7 million tonnes of LNG per year.

LNG is gas chilled to liquid form for export on specially designed ships. (Reporting by Tsvetelia Ilieva)