The independent operator of the Greece-Bolgaria interconnector (ICGB) completed the admission of applications from potential users of future capacities that will appear after the expansion of the gas pipeline.
Sources in ICGB told Report that the admission of non-binding applications was announced in July.
In less than a year of commercial operation, the Greece-Bulgaria intercorrector has become an important part of Bulgaria plans for diversification of energy sources, increasing the safety of supplies and energy independence, said Teodora Georgieva, Executive Director of ICGB for Bulgaria.
She noted that more than 82% of the total capacity (ICGB) has already been reserved for the upcoming gas year and the company is looking forward to expanding plans and to further strengthening the role of Bulgaria and Greece on the energy map of the region.
According to her, gas traders are interested in additional capacities of up to 4 billion cubic meters per year over the next few gas years at the junction of the IGB with the Greek National Operator and the Bulgarian National Operator Bulgartransgaz.
Today, IGB's throughput is about 3 billion cubic meters of gas per year. Depending on the interest from the market, the power of the interconnector can be increased to 5 billion cubic meters.
The Greece-Bolgaria interconnector began commercial deliveries on October 1, 2022.