Since its commercial launch at the end of 2022, the Greece-Bulgaria Gas Interconnector (IGB) has transported more than 34.5 million MWh of natural gas, according to an announcement by the pipeline’s operator on June 6.
During the summer months, the IGB covers over 60% of Bulgaria’s natural gas supply, while in the winter this drops to about 40%. These figures highlight the growing role of the pipeline in securing and diversifying Bulgaria’s energy sources.
The IGB also allows for virtual reverse flows from Bulgaria back toward Greece. Since the pipeline became operational, about 2 million MWh have been routed in this direction. ICGB confirmed it is technically ready to enable physical reverse flow at Komotini once Greece provides the necessary entry capacity.
The pipeline is supported by two main metering stations — one in Stara Zagora, where it connects to Bulgaria’s transmission network operated by Bulgartransgaz, and a dual station in Komotini, linking it to the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) and the Greek operator DESFA.
Work is currently underway to expand the pipeline’s capacity as part of the broader Vertical Gas Corridor, a regional initiative involving Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, and Hungary. Once fully developed, the IGB is expected to reach an annual capacity of 5 billion cubic meters of natural gas, strengthening cooperation and energy resiliency across the region.
