IGB pipeline to start operating by late July

The Greece-Bulgaria (IGB) natural gas pipeline will start its operation by the end of July, Environment and Energy Minister Kostas Skrekas told journalists, Report informs.

According to him, the inauguration of the IGB pipeline will take place in the city of Komotini, North-East Greece, on July 8 in the presence of the prime ministers of both countries.

The IGB is designed to transport blue fuel from Shah Deniz 2 to Bulgaria. Through this pipeline, which will join TAP, Bulgaria will import 1 billion cubic meters of natural gas a year from Azerbaijan. Thus, the state company Bulgargaz EAD has signed a contract with the Shah Deniz consortium to purchase this amount of gas from the Shah Deniz-2 field. Azerbaijan will be able to meet 25-30% of Bulgaria's gas needs.

The 150 kilometres of the pipeline (182-kilometre in length) will pass through Bulgaria. The pipeline's annual capacity is estimated at 3-5 billion cubic meters.