ICGB now member of European Network of Transmission System Operators for Gas

The independent transmission operator ICGB, which is responsible for the commercial operation of the Greece-Bulgaria interconnector, is now a member of the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Gas – ENTSOG, Report informs, citing the company.

The role of the European Network of Gas Transmission System Operators is to facilitate and improve cooperation between national gas transmission system operators (TSOs) in Europe, to ensure the development of a pan-European transmission system in line with the energy and climate goals of the European Union.

The IGB pipeline was put into commercial operation in early October. 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.