ICGB, the operator of the Greece-Bulgaria gas interconnection (IGB pipeline), has announced its annual capacity auctions for the bilateral gas corridor. Firm capacity rights will be available for bidding on July 7, followed by auctions for interruptible capacity on July 21.
Capacity at the border points with the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) and the Greek gas grid operator DESFA will be auctioned via the PRISMA platform. Meanwhile, capacity at the Stara Zagora interconnection point with Bulgartransgaz will be offered through the Regional Booking Platform (RBP).
This year’s auctions for firm capacity cover the next five consecutive gas years. Entry points at the DESFA and TAP nodes will be allocated through a competitive bidding process. For the 2025/2026 gas year, interruptible reverse flow capacity will only be available at the Bulgartransgaz entry point and the TAP exit point. Full auction information is already available on both PRISMA and RBP, giving market participants time to prepare their bids.
ICGB executives Teodora Georgieva and George Satlas emphasized the strategic importance of these auctions for enhancing energy security in the region and called for broad participation.
Since the start of commercial operations less than three years ago, the IGB pipeline has attracted over 45 registered shippers and become a key part of southeastern Europe’s efforts to diversify energy supply. During the winter, the pipeline supplies over 40 percent of Bulgaria’s natural gas needs, increasing to more than 60 percent in the summer, and also supports virtual reverse flows into Greece. So far, the interconnector has transported over 34.5 million megawatt-hours of gas.
