The Prime Minister of Bulgaria, Boyko Borisov, stated that the Greece-Bulgaria interconnector (IGB) is a geostrategic project both for Bulgaria and for the entire region. According to him, the pandemic has suspended the project; however, it has been talked through with the Greek partners, and the gas pipeline should be put into commercial operation in 2021.
Energy Minister Temenuzhka Petkova said that the project for the production and delivery of pipes had been completed, and both countries have received 187 km of pipes so far.
"At a pipeline section extending to more than 170 km through Bulgaria, the topsoil has been cleaned, of the delivered pipes, more than 128 km are already in place, and more than 101 km have been welded," Petkova noted.
IGB will start commercial operations in October. After completing the IGB, Bulgaria will meet 33% of the total gas demand with TAP.
The IGB is intended to export to Bulgaria natural gas produced within the second phase of the Shah Deniz gas condensate field in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea. The interconnector will be linked to the TAP. Bulgaria will receive 1 billion cubic meters of Azerbaijani gas per year through the IGB pipeline.
State-owned Bulgargaz EAD has signed a contract with the Shah Deniz consortium to purchase 1 billion cubic meters of gas from the Shah Deniz-2 field. Azerbaijani gas will cover 25-30% of Bulgaria's natural gas needs.
The interconnector extends to 182 km, of which 150 km runs through the territory of Bulgaria.
The annual capacity of the interconnector is envisaged in the amount of 3-5 billion cubic meters.
