31.03.2021
The Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria (IGB) should be complete by the end of 2021 so as to carry liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the USA, Israel, Egypt and many other sources via Alexandroupolis, with a prospect of an annual throughput of up to 5 billion cubic meters (bcm). This was stated by Prime Minister Boyko Borissov who today inspected the construction of the Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria in the vicinity of Dimitrovgrad. “This is 100% diversification. As you see how difficult it is to do it, you may understand why no one undertook the venture before us,” the Prime Minister said. Further Mr. Borissov said that brisk work is under way to expand the Underground Gas Storage Chiren (UGS Chiren) as part of the Three Seas Initiative (3SI) of which Bulgaria is a member.
Prime Minister Boyko Borissov visited the section where the gas pipeline will cross the River Maritsa. All preparatory work for the onsite construction has been done there. The horizontal directional drilling is the most environment-friendly mode to cross the river. The crossing is about 500 m long, at a solid depth under the riverbed and cuts across heterogeneous earth blankets which is an extreme challenge facing the construction work. Once the drilling equipment is on, it operates nonstop for some days until the drilling is complete and the pipe siphon is effectively drawn.
For the gas interconnector to materialize, work is in progress with 150 kilometers of pipes on the route in preparation for subsequent activities. Welding is complete over a distance of 120 kilometers and 70 kilometers of pipes are lying in the trench. The total length of the gas pipeline is 182 kilometers, of which 150 kilometers are in the Bulgarian territory.
According to an agreement that was signed additionally with the contractor AVAX, the company is to stick to the schedule, which it updated for itself and the gas pipeline should be complete by the end of 2021. Interim deadlines have been agreed for key phases of which 15 October 2021 is the most important one as the crossing of the large water bodies should be complete by then. Construction continues while the originally agreed fixed price of 144.8 million euro is valid.
The project Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria is a key project for Bulgaria and for the region due to its strategic importance for ensuring the diversification of the sources and routes of natural gas supplies. The project enables the improved energy connectivity in Southeast Europe as it is developing in synergy with other large-scale existing and intended projects such as TAP and the LNG terminal near Alexandroupolis where the Bulgarian state is an equal shareholder.
