More than 15.5 million MWh of natural gas were transported via the IGB pipeline in 2023, according to the ICGB, the operator of the interconnection. The gas pipeline marked its first year with 365 days of uninterrupted operation.
The gas pipeline has a capacity of 3 billion cubic meters per year, providing half of Bulgaria’s domestic consumption needs and allowing for gas transmission to other countries in the region.
Over 20 new network users were registered in 2023. With an additional infrastructure in Kardzhali, the IGB pipeline already provides access to a new, diversified source of natural gas for local communities and businesses.
In 2023, ICGB held the first yearly auctions for interconnector capacity, which secured over 80% of reserved capacity for the new gas year. Quasiyearly capacity auctions were introduced to allow capacity booking at the interconnection point with the Greek transmission network. This strategic step will allow traders to access volumes from the Alexandroupoli LNG terminal as soon as it becomes operational.
ICGB has initiated an incremental capacity process to expand the pipeline’s technical capacity to 5 billion cubic meters per year. The binding phase of the process is planned for the summer of 2024.
