Today, in the Greek region of Komotini, the opening ceremony of the Greece – Bulgaria (IGB) interconnector was held for the transportation of Azerbaijani natural gas to Bulgaria. Greece at the event was represented by Prime Minister Kiriakotikitis, Bulgaria – Prime Minister Kirill Petkov, Azerbaijan – Minister of Energy of Parviz Shakhbazov.
A gas pipeline worth 220 million euros and a length of 180 km will connect Komotini and the Bulgarian Old Zagoru and allow Bulgaria to receive Azerbaijani gas instead of Russian transit through Greece.
Reuters reports that Bulgaria Prime Minister Kirill Petkov highly appreciated the significance of the interconnector for his country: “Bulgaria will begin to receive Azerbaijani gas from this gas pipeline for several weeks. This will put an end to the Russian monopoly. We will get access to different energy sources.”
According to him, the software is being tested now and the latest bureaucratic procedures necessary for putting the gas pipeline into operation are carried out. Gas supply should begin in early August.
Bulgaria consumes about 3 billion cubic meters of gas per year. 90% of this volume was supplied by Russia. But in April, Bulgaria refused to pay Russian gas with rubles, as a result of the Russian Federation she interrupted the supply of fuel. The initial power of the gas pipeline will be the necessary 3 billion cubic meters of gas. In the future, it will be increased to 5 billion cubic meters.