ICGB: Integration with Trans-Balkan gas pipeline to allow for reverse gas supplies to Moldova, Ukraine

Expanding IGB capacity is significant not only for national but also for pan-European energy security in the long term, Teodora Georgieva, executive officer in ICGB - the operator of IGB - said in an interview with Report.

According to Georgieva, IGB is not only a cornerstone element of the Southern Gas Corridor, but also an important part of integration with the Vertical Gas Corridor.

"It is key infrastructure physically connecting the Southern Gas Corridor with TAP, as well as with the Vertical Corridor system. This connection makes IGB a strategic link for transporting Azerbaijani gas from the Caspian region to Southeastern, Central, and Eastern Europe. IGB also provides gas supplies from Ukraine and Moldova through the Trans-Balkan pipeline. Thanks to integration with the Bulgarian national gas network and the Trans-Balkan route, IGB allows for reverse flow of Azerbaijani gas toward Ukraine and Moldova, providing much-needed alternative and secure supply routes," she said.

Georgieva emphasized that the synergy between the Southern Gas Corridor, IGB, and the Trans-Balkan direction forms a strategic lifeline for a region under serious geopolitical and energy pressure.

"ICGB company is fully committed to providing reliable, flexible, and scalable supplies. We have sustainable market demand and confirmed operational success: since the start of operations in 2022, IGB has reached 80% utilization of its capacity - this is clear evidence of the high level of market confidence in our infrastructure," she said.

Read the full interview here.