ICGB pipeline company (Greece-Bulgaria Interconnection Operator, IGB) has signed an interconnection agreement with the neighboring natural gas Transmission System Operator DESFA at the interconnection point (IP) located at Komotini, Greece, Report informs referring to ICGB.
The IGB pipeline is already connected with the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) and with the natural gas transmission system of Bulgartransgaz. The new interconnection agreement will allow interested parties with booked capacities from the FSRU to transport gas via the IGB pipeline, establishing a new route for natural gas deliveries to Southeast and Central Europe. ICGB intends to put IP Komotini DESFA/ICGB in operation as of October 1, 2024 if the respective confirmation is issued by upstream systems operators.
The connection has already been successfully tested with natural gas quantities to ensure safe exploitation following October 1.
IGB’s current capacity is 3 bcm/y with the potential to reach 5 bcm/y. The independent TSO ICGB is already engaged with the capacity expansion as a strategic step towards securing access to natural gas deliveries from diversified sources. This is also a vital project under the Vertical Gas Corridor, uniting the region’s TSO including Moldova and Ukraine.
"The Agreement adheres to all applicable regulatory requirements and outlines a comprehensive set of terms, conditions, and procedures that will govern all operations at the IP. Both TSOs will ensure secure, safe, reliable, and effective interoperability at the IP, once it commences commercial operation. In the monthly capacity auction for October ICGB has offered available capacity of 48,044,459 kwh/day at the IP," reads the report.
The IGB gas pipeline connects with the Greek national gas transmission system (DESFA S.A.) and the Trans-Adriatic gas pipeline (TAP AG) in the area of Komotini (Greece), and with the Bulgarian gas transmission system (Bulgartransgaz EAD) in the area of Stara Zagora. The total length of the gas pipeline is 182 km, the diameter of the pipe - 32'' - and a design capacity of up to 3 billion m3/year in the direction Greece - Bulgaria.
Depending on the market interest for larger capacity and the possibilities of the neighboring gas transmission systems, the capacity of IGB is designed with the option for increase up to 5 billion m3/year with additional construction of a compressor station.