The three offers were received on the 2.8 million euros worth tender for the development of investment project for the upgrade of above-ground facilities at Chiren underground gas storage, said state-owned natural gas transmission system operator Bulgartransgaz. The statement from the operator said that the offers were submitted by local company GCR and two consortia: first one consists of German DIAG Industries and two local companies Turbine Spare Parts Services Partners and Chimcomplect Engineering, while the second one includes state-owned Minproekt, as well as local K-Engineering and Upstream Geology Consulting.
Last October, Bulgartransgaz said that it has awarded a 750,000 euros worth contact for upgrade works on underground gas storage Chiren to local company Active Building. According to the contract, Active Building will perform works on the gas turbine engine compressors of the facility, but also provide all the necessary materials and equipment for the upgrade. The company’s offer was selected as the most favorable at the public tender, which attracted a total of five offers. The project on expanding the capacity of Chiren underground gas storage envisages a staged capacity increase of the only gas storage facility on the territory of Bulgaria in order to achieve greater stored gas volumes, increased gas reservoir pressures and higher daily average withdrawal and injection rates. The project provides for increase of the working gas volume up to 1 billion cubic meters and withdrawal and injection rates increase up to 8-10 million cubic meters per day. Chiren has been the only gas storage on the territory of Bulgaria for 40 years. It is a key instrument for the functioning of the gas market in Bulgaria, covering the seasonal fluctuations in natural gas consumption in the country by securing the necessary flexibility caused by the differences between the supplies and consumption, and ensures emergency reserve. Chiren gas storage is a crucial instrument ensuring the security of gas supplies.
