ICGB, the independent operator of Greece- Bulgaria gas interconnection (so-called IGB gas pipeline), said that a local subsidiary of Swiss energy company – Axpo Bulgaria has been registered as the user of the pipeline and is now able to book the pipeline’s available capacity.
ICGB also said that it is planning to launch two auctions for the pipeline’s available capacity in December. The auction for firm forward monthly capacity in the direction Greece-Bulgaria will be held on 21 November, while the auction for the interruptible reverse flow capacity (in the opposite direction Bulgaria-Greece) is scheduled for 29 November.
In the first month of its operation (from 1 October to 1 November), the IGB pipeline transported over 1 billion kWh or 95 million cubic meters of natural gas.
Commercial operation of the interconnector with annual capacity of 3 billion cubic meters of gas started on 1 October. The gas interconnector between Greece and Bulgaria can have its capacity increased to 5 billion cubic meters, which will also allow for reverse flow in the direction of Stara Zagora – Komotini. This requires the construction of a compressor station in Komotini, which will be ready in 2024, at the same time as the commissioning of the LNG terminal in Alexandroupoli in northern Greece.
