Bulgaria and Greece certify new gas interconnector IGB

The energy regulators of Bulgaria and Greece have certified the Gas Interconnector Greece–Bulgaria (IGB), Report informs via BNR.

The commercial exploitation of the interconnector is set to begin after July 1, 2022. IGB is of strategic importance and allows for the linking of the Greek and the Bulgarian gas transmission systems, diversifying gas supplies to Bulgaria and Southeastern Europe.

The interconnector will enable Bulgaria to receive, in the second half of 2022, the full amount of the 1 billion cubic meters of natural gas negotiated with Azerbaijan.

The pipeline's transmission capacity is 3 billion cubic meters, and will allow delivery of liquefied gas from the US, Algeria, Qatar, Egypt, Nigeria, Israel and Cyprus.

The papers must be approved by the European Commission, following European norms, before the certificates enter into force.

The Greek-Bulgarian Interconnector Pipeline between Komotini, Greece and Stara Zagora, Bulgaria, will be connected to the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) to deliver Azerbaijani gas to Bulgaria.

IGB envisages the transportation of the gas produced in the second phase of the Shah Deniz gas condensate field in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea to Bulgaria. Thus, the state company 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. At the expense of Azerbaijani natural gas, Bulgaria will be able to meet 25-30% of its gas needs.

A total of 150 kilometers of the 182-kilometer pipeline will be on the Bulgarian territory. The pipeline's annual capacity is estimated at 3-5 billion cubic meters.

The capacity of the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline, the European part of the Southern Gas Corridor, which currently transports Azerbaijani gas to southern Europe, is 10 billion cubic meters per year.