LNG delivery, regasification and entry into Bulgaria’s storage
Bulgargaz, the Bulgarian state-owned gas supplier, has received an LNG cargo from Shell under an agreement covering 1 million MWh for the 2026–2027 heating season. The cargo is being used to strengthen Bulgaria’s winter supply position through the Alexandroupoli–Chiren corridor. The shipment was unloaded at the Alexandroupoli LNG terminal in northern Greece, then regasified and injected into the regional transmission network.
After regasification, the gas is transported to Bulgaria and stored at the Chiren underground gas storage facility. Storage continues until the gas is required during the winter period. The arrangement converts the delivered LNG into a seasonal supply option rather than immediate summer consumption.
Scale of the cargo within Bulgaria’s winter procurement approach
A volume of 1 million MWh is broadly equivalent to around 90–100 million cubic metres of natural gas, depending on calorific value. The size is described as sufficient to provide a material seasonal buffer. It remains one component of Bulgaria’s wider winter procurement and storage programme.
The cargo supports flexibility for Bulgargaz by allowing retention for periods of higher winter demand. It can also be used during times of pipeline disruption or when spot-market prices are elevated. This approach links winter supply needs to stored volumes rather than relying solely on immediate drawdown after delivery.
Role of Alexandroupoli and interaction with regional gas flows
The transaction highlights the commercial role Alexandroupoli is beginning to play in Southeast Europe. The terminal provides Bulgaria access to seaborne gas without relying exclusively on routes through Turkey or legacy Russian supply infrastructure. It also enables deliveries into neighbouring markets through increasingly interconnected Greek and Bulgarian transmission systems.
Bulgaria’s broader strategy combines LNG delivered through Greece with pipeline gas from Azerbaijan and regional interconnection capacity. This increases supplier diversity while also introducing infrastructure tariffs that require coordination across terminal slots, transmission bookings and storage availability. For Alexandroupoli, regular Bulgarian cargoes are relevant for utilisation and revenue because LNG terminals have substantial fixed costs.
Storage economics and operational linkage between assets
At Chiren, storage turns the cargo into a seasonal risk-management tool for Bulgargaz. Instead of consuming the gas immediately during summer, Bulgargaz can keep it available for winter conditions. The economic outcome depends on acquisition price, terminal and transmission charges, storage costs and the winter gas-price spread.
The transaction connects three elements: global LNG supply, Greek regasification infrastructure and Bulgaria’s domestic storage system at Chiren. Its value is described as tied to operational flexibility as well as the energy contained in the cargo.
