Hungarian Foreign Ministry: IGB - breakthrough for Europe’s energy security

The Gas Interconnector Greece–Bulgaria (IGB) is a breakthrough in Europe’s energy security, Minister of State for Security Policy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary Peter Sztaray said at the fifth Romanian International Gas Conference, Report informs.

He talks about various alternatives that will reduce Europe’s dependence on Russian gas.

“Azerbaijan also increases gas supplies to Europe... It is very gratifying to see how countries show solidarity in this issue,” Sztaray said.

On September 21-22, Bucharest is hosting the Romanian International Gas Conference, which is also attended by Azerbaijani Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov.

IGB provides for the transportation of gas to Bulgaria produced within the second stage of operation of the Shah Deniz gas condensate field in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea. The state company Bulgargaz EAD signed a contract with the Shah Deniz consortium for the supply of 1 billion cubic meters of gas from the Shah Deniz-2 field. Azerbaijani natural gas will be able to satisfy 25-30% of Bulgaria’s needs.

As many as 150 kilometers of the pipeline with a total length of 182 kilometers run through the territory of Bulgaria. The annual capacity of the pipeline is expected to be 3-5 billion cubic meters.