SOFIA, Oct 2 (NNN-Xinhua) — The Greece-Bulgaria gas pipeline, the Gas Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria (IGB), started commercial operation on Saturday, according to ICGB AD, owner and operator of the IGB.
The IGB connects with the Greek national gas transmission system and the Trans-Adriatic gas pipeline (TAP AG) in the area of Komotini of Greece, and with the Bulgarian gas transmission system in the area of Stara Zagora of Bulgaria, according to a press release by the operator.
The total length of the gas pipeline is 182 km, and the designed capacity is up to 3 billion cubic meters per year.
Bulgaria used to rely on Russian imports for more than 80 percent of its gas needs, according to local media reports.
The 182-kilometre pipeline will provide a relief to Bulgaria, which has been struggling to secure gas supplies at affordable prices since the end of April, when Russia’s Gazprom cut off deliveries over Sofia’s refusal to pay in roubles.
Russia has decreased its gas deliveries to Europe after the West imposed sanctions on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine, leaving European Union countries scrambling to secure alternative supplies amid surging prices. — NNN-XINHUA
