ICGB, a joint venture company of Bulgarian Energy Holding (BEH) and IGI Poseidon, in which Greek Public Gas Corporation (DEPA) and Italian Edison hold equal stakes, in charge of the project for the construction of gas interconnection between Bulgaria and Greece, announced that the interconnection has entered trial operation.
The so-called IGB pipeline is of key importance for increasing security of supply and for ensuring diversification of gas sources for Bulgaria and the entire southeastern Europe. At the regional level, IGB pipeline will provide access to the gas transmission network for Bulgarian municipalities and regions that have not had the opportunity for connectivity. The interconnector with Greece is an entirely new route for the transmission of natural gas to Europe and will provide Bulgaria and the region with access to supplies from new sources. The project will connect the country to the Southern Gas Corridor and has excellent synergies with other major energy projects such as TAP, TANAP, EastMed and the future liquefied natural gas terminal in Alexandroupoli.
The pipeline is expected to enter commercial operation after 1 July.
182 kilometers long Bulgaria-Greece gas interconnection is designed with the capacity between 3 and 5 billion cubic meters of gas per year, but it could be extended up to 10 billion cubic meters in case of commercial interest and economical justification. The construction of the pipeline officially started on 22 May 2019.
