The Trans Adriatic Gas Pipeline (TAP) will begin commercial operations by July 2021, executive director of ICGB project company Teodora Georgieva said, Report informs, referring to foreign media.
Bulgargaz said the connection of the Gas Interconnector Greece - Bulgaria (IGB) to the pipeline would take place in early October due to the pandemic.
The Greek-controlled contractor J&P Avax has applied for an extension of the project implementation period, tentatively until the end of 2021.
At the same time, an IGB spokeswoman said the application is justified by the global spread of the coronavirus pandemic, which continues to make it challenging to maintain the steady pace of work outlined in the preliminary plan.
There are also complex technological challenges that also take time, the spokeswoman added.
Bulgaria will cover 33 percent of the total gas demand through TAP after the completion of the IGB.
The IGB is intended to export natural gas produced within the second phase of the development of the Shah Deniz gas condensate field in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea to Bulgaria.
The interconnector will be connected to the TAP. Bulgaria through IGB will receive 1 billion cubic meters of Azerbaijani gas per year. State-owned Bulgargaz EAD has signed a contract with the Shah Deniz consortium to purchase 1 billion cubic meters of gas from the Shah Deniz 2 field.
Azerbaijani gas will cover 25-30 percent of Bulgaria’s natural gas needs. The length of the interconnector is 182 km, of which 150 km runs through Bulgaria’s territory. The annual capacity of the interconnector is provided in the amount of 3-5 billion cubic meters.