The full supply of Azerbaijani gas to the Bulgarian market, i.e., up to 1 billion cubic meters, will be possible after the construction of the Interconnector Greece - Bulgaria (IGB), Azerbaijani Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov told Report.
"I think this issue is in the direct interest of Bulgaria, and we see that they are working for it. I can not predict the completion of construction in the announced period. Time will tell," he said.
The Minister noted that 273 million cubic meters of Azerbaijani gas were exported to Bulgaria last year: "Bulgaria cannot receive the total amount of gas as the IGB is not ready. This is a matter that directly depends on Bulgaria."
The IGB envisages the transportation of gas produced in the second phase of the Shah Deniz gas condensate field in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea to Bulgaria. Through this pipeline, which will be connected to TAP, Bulgaria will import 1 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually from Azerbaijan. Thus, the state company Bulgargaz EAD has signed a contract with the Shah Deniz consortium to purchase this amount of gas from the Shah Deniz-2 field. At the expense of Azerbaijani natural gas, Bulgaria will be able to meet 25-30% of its gas needs. The construction of the IGB is expected to be completed in the second half of next year.
A total of 150 kilometers of the 182-kilometer pipeline will pass through Bulgaria. The annual capacity of the pipeline is estimated at 3-5 billion cubic meters.
As part of the development of the Southern Gas Corridor, the countries of South-Eastern and Central Europe will have the opportunity to import alternative supplies and liquefied natural gas from the Caspian region through the IGB.