During a recent visit to the Burgas port, Bulgarian Energy Minister Zhecho Stankov emphasized the importance of the Vertical Gas Corridor, which is set to benefit Bulgaria as well as Central and Southeastern Europe. Bulgaria is leading the expansion of its gas transmission network, with the first phase already underway. This phase involves the arrival of pipes, which were delivered to Burgas port a few days ago.
The Vertical Gas Corridor is a joint project involving Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Ukraine, Moldova, and Slovakia. Its primary goal is to enhance energy security by diversifying gas supply sources and transmission routes. The project involves the shipment of 4,000 pipes from India, which are now being transported to various locations in Bulgaria. All pipes required for the first phase of the gas pipeline construction are expected to be delivered by April 20th. The authorities plan to secure construction permits by April, with a groundbreaking ceremony scheduled for May.
The initial phase of the project involves upgrading the pipeline from Kulata, near the Greek border, to the existing Kresna gas pipeline. This upgrade will boost the gas transfer capacity by 50%, from 2.3 billion cubic meters to 3.6 billion cubic meters per year. Once the second phase of construction, running from Rupcha to Vetrino in northeastern Bulgaria, is completed, the gas transfer capacity to Romania will increase from 5 billion cubic meters to 10 billion cubic meters annually.
This project is expected to provide significant revenue while ensuring a stable natural gas supply for Bulgaria. The pipes delivered to Burgas will be used across seven construction sites, with one of the most challenging sections located between the Mikrevo and Ribnik bases. In this area, the terrain has a 40-degree elevation difference, making installation more complex. To address this, a 48-kilometer stretch will use horizontal drilling technology, which allows for pipe installation without disturbing the surface. This method will minimize disruptions to roads, railways, and riverbeds.
