22.05.2019
With the Interconnector Bulgaria-Greece we are achieving a full and real diversification of gas supply. This is what Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said during a ceremony in Kirkovo, where, together with Prime Minister of Greece Alexis Tsipras, he broke the ground of the construction of the gas interconnector between the two states. “Many delegations returned from Azerbaijan, but gas cannot be carried in a pocket, bag or suitcase. We heard a lot. Well, now we worked towards achieving this and we are putting a start to it,” pointed out Prime Minister Borissov. He said that only a few days ago he inspected the interconnection that is currently being constructed from the border with Turkey towards the border with Serbia and added that our state will take advantage of all gas sources available and will be able to choose the most profitable price.
The Prime Minister of Greece Alexis Tsipras put an emphasis on the importance of this project. He pointed out, that such networks assist the peace and stability in the region of the Balkans, but also in Europe as a whole. “These projects contribute to the geopolitical role of Greece and Bulgaria. During the last few years, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania and Serbia have actively worked for the prospective of creating a ring of connectivity in the region,” said Tsipras. He pointed out that a big part of the supply coming through the network will be from Azerbaijan, through the Trans Adriatic gas pipeline. “This project can be branched towards Serbia and Romania as well,” added the Greek Prime Minister and put an accent on the possibilities that will result from the connectivity of the Balkans with the East Mediterranean.
In a video address the Vice-President of the European Commission, responsible for the energy union, Maroš Šefčovič said that he welcomes the initiation of the construction of the gas interconnection. “The IGB project is one of the key stages of the construction of the European gas union. Today is a historic day for all Europeans – both for the ones living in Greece and Bulgaria, but also for the rest of them, including the ones in Brussels. This project will help increase energy security and develop a better-integrated regional gas market. IGB ensures the key elements from the strategy of the EU for the development of a secure and stable energy. I am absolutely sure that gas will flow through the interconnector for the first time in January 2021” said the Vice-President of the European Commission.
“Today the agreements between President Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister Boyko Borissov are being put into action. I want to express my gratitude towards the Bulgarian state, because this is one of the large-scale projects of the Southern Gas Corridor, through which Bulgaria will be supplied with gas from Azerbaijan,” said the First Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan, who also took part in the ceremony in Kirkovo.
Through the gas interconnection, Bulgaria will be getting Azerbaijani natural gas from the Trans Adriatic gas pipeline, and in addition, Bulgaria will be able to get gas supplies through the interconnector by the terminal of Alexandroupolis for liquefied natural gas coming from the USA, Qatar, Algeria, Israel, Egypt, etc. The gas network connecting Bulgaria and Greece is with the length of 182 km, from which 150 are in the territory of Bulgaria. It starts from Komotini, Greece and connects with the Bulgarian gas supply system at Stara Zagora. Its technical capacity is from 3 to 5 billion cubic meters. The cost of the project is €220 million.
