The independent transmission system operator ICGB said that the non-binding phase of a procedure for assessing market demand for an increase in the capacity of the Greece-Bulgaria gas interconnector has been completed.
ICGB CEOs George Satlas and Teodora Georgieva said that the market interest for a few consecutive gas years is nearly two times higher than the company’s initial expectations. They believe that this interest, while non-binding for the participating companies, is a great first step towards a potential expansion of the IGB pipeline’s capacity from 3 to 5 billion cubic metres of gas per year.
Over 82% of the total capacity for the upcoming gas year is already booked, and ICGB is looking ahead towards plans for expansion to enhance Bulgaria and Greece’s roles on the regional energy map.
Gas traders expressed interest in adding up to 4 billion cubic metres per year of additional capacity for the next few gas years at the interconnection points of IGB with the Greek and Bulgarian gas transmission system operators, DESFA and Bulgartransgaz.
IGB is the first route for diversified gas supplies to Bulgaria and enables the transportation of natural gas from new sources to other countries in the region as well, including Moldova and Ukraine.
The IGB gas pipeline connects with the Greek national gas transmission system and the Trans-Adriatic (TAP) gas pipeline in the area of Komotini and with the Bulgarian gas transmission system in the area of Stara Zagora. The total length of the gas pipeline is 182 kilometres, with a design capacity of up to 3 billion cubic metres per year in the direction Greece–Bulgaria. Depending on the market interest for larger capacity and the possibilities of the neighbouring gas transmission systems, the capacity of IGB is designed with the option of increasing up to 5 billion cubic metres per year with the construction of an additional compressor station.
