Finishing works for commercial launch of IGB progressing in line with set schedule

The finishing works required for the commercial launch of the IGB pipeline connecting Greece and Bulgaria are progressing according to the set schedule, Report informs, citing ICGB, the operator of IGB.

"All facilities are complete and in operational readiness. We expect the construction contractor to complete the gas pipeline's management system in the next ten days, so that from October 1st Bulgaria and Greece could receive the first quantities of natural gas from IGB. We are about to purchase more quantities of natural gas to additionally test the interconnector at a higher pressure than the usual operational levels, in sync with the highest standards in the industry," said the two ICGB Executive Officers, Teodora Georgieva and George Satlas, after a meeting on site with the Greek construction company AVAX.

The meeting was also attended by the Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Ivan Shishkov and the head of the Bulgarian National Building Control Directorate (NBCD) Delyana Panayotova.

In parallel with the finishing works carried out by the EPC contractor, ICGB continues the coordination of the administrative procedures in Bulgaria and Greece necessary for the issuance of all permits for the use of the infrastructure and its legal commissioning.

"At the moment, we have submitted more than 95% of all the required documents to NBCD for preliminary review and approval, so as to help speed up convening a commission to issue Act 16 for Bulgaria and, accordingly, a Permit for Use. Consumers and businesses are counting on us to be operational from October 1st and to help reduce energy prices during the heating season, so for us, there is no higher priority than that," said Teodora Georgieva.

"The Greek side is making active efforts to have the IGB ready on time, as this is important not only for the two host countries, but also for the entire region, given the complicated international situation and Europe's consistent efforts to fully diversify its natural gas supplies," pointed out George Satlas.

According to him, the necessary permits for the operation of the gas pipeline on the territory of Greece are expected to be issued by mid-September.

The commercial operation of IGB is of key importance to fortify the security of supply and to ensure the diversification of natural gas sources for Bulgaria and the region of South-Eastern Europe. The project connects Bulgaria to the Southern Gas Corridor and will enable secure supplies from various sources to a number of CSEE countries, including Moldova and Ukraine.

IGB envisages the transportation of the gas produced within the framework of the II stage of exploitation of the Shah Deniz gas-condensate field in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea to Bulgaria. The state company Bulgargaz EAD has signed an agreement with the Shah Deniz consortium for the supply of 1 billion cubic meters of gas from the Shah Deniz-2 field. Azerbaijan's natural gas is expected to meet 25-30% of Bulgaria's demand.

A 150-kilometer section of the pipeline with a total length of 182 kilometers passes through the territory of Bulgaria. The annual transmission capacity of the pipeline is expected to be 3-5 billion cubic meters.