Bulgaria begins construction of gas link - PIPELINES INTERNATIONAL

30 May 2019

Kirkovo, Bulgaria, has started building a gas pipeline with Greece that will end the Balkan country’s total dependence on Russian gas.

According to Reuters, the 240 million euro ($268 million) gas pipeline will help diversify supplies in southeastern Europe. The 182-km interconnector link between Bulgaria and Greece will be ready by the end of 2020 to transport mainly Azeri gas to Bulgari.

The 32 inch (813 mm) diameter pipeline diameter has a projected capacity of up to 3 billion m3/a, with the option to increase its capacity up to 5 billion m3/a following market evolution.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov says, “The project is of strategic importance not only for our two countries, but for the whole of Europe, including the countries in the Western Balkans”, according to Reuters.

“It will lead to real diversification of gas supplies”.

The Natural Gas Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria Pipeline is being constructed by the ICGB AD Joint Venture, comprising BEH EAD (50 per cent) and IGI Poseidon (50 per cent).

The construction will begin works near the village of Kirkovo, 15 km north of the border with Greece.

Bulgarian PM Borisov: IGB to Lead to a Real Diversification of Sources - NOVINITE

May 25, 2019, Saturday // 08:57

Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria (IGB), which envisages transportation of Azerbaijani gas to Bulgaria will ensure real diversification of sources, said Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, Trend reports.

He made the remarks during a meeting with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras before the groundbreaking ceremony of the interconnector that took place May 22 in Bulgaria’s Kirkovo.

“The realization of the project for construction of gas interconnection between Bulgaria and Greece will have a key role for the whole region and for Europe. The project is of strategic importance not only for our two countries but also for the whole of Europe, including the countries of the Western Balkans," said the prime minister.

Borissov pointed out that the interconnector will lead to a real diversification of the sources and routes for natural gas supply.

IGB is a gas pipeline, which will allow Bulgaria to receive Azerbaijani gas, in particular, the gas produced from Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz 2 gas and condensate field. IGB is expected to be connected to TAP via which gas from the Shah Deniz field will be delivered to the European markets.

The initial capacity of IGB will be 3 billion cubic meters of gas.

Tsipras-Netanyahu talks focus on EastMed pipeline - KATHIMERINI

03.11.2018 : 12:19

Stavros Papantoniou

PHOTO: (L-R) Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, Serbian President Alexander Vucic, Greece's Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pose for a picture after a press briefing during the Quadrilateral Summit Greece-Bulgaria-Romania-Serbia at Evsinograd Palace in Varna, Friday.

The “large geopolitical significance” of the EastMed pipeline, which will transfer natural gas from the Eastern Mediterranean to Europe, was stressed by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras during his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Bulgarian seaside resort of Varna on Friday.

Tsipras, who met the Israeli premier on the sidelines of a Balkan summit of Greek, Bulgarian, Romanian and Serbian leaders, said the project is of “financial and geopolitical high value.”

At the same time, Tsipras and Netanyahu also discussed the upgrade of the northern Greek port city of Thessaloniki into a Balkan hub of innovation with the participation of Israeli businesses which are already active there.

Tsipras also referred to the benefits to Southeastern Europe that will come from the Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria (IGB) natural gas pipeline, which will link Alexandroupoli to Bulgaria. In addition he spoke about other road and rail projects that will link countries in the Balkan region.

Bulgaria interested in joining Egypt-Cyprus-Greece gas project - ENERGY EGYPT

SEPTEMBER 26, 2018 AT 5:32 PM

At a meeting in New York with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said that Egypt is Bulgaria’s most important economic partner among the Middle East countries and Africa.

Bulgaria accepts Egypt as a potential supplier of natural gas and would benefit from joining its gas project with Greece and Cyprus.

Besides Bulgaria recognizes Egypt as a country playing a key role for stability in the region of the Middle East and Africa and is open for active cooperation with it in the fight against terrorism, cross-border crime and radicalization at all levels, Borissov also said.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said that Egypt is Bulgaria’s key economic and trade partner in the Middle East and Africa, citing the increase in trade exchange between the two countries.

Sofia is highly interested in cooperation with Egypt in the energy field, Borissov said during a meeting with President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi on the sidelines of the 73rd UN General Assembly meetings in New York.

Tsipras heads to Sofia for energy talks - KATHIMERINI

SATURDAY JULY 30, 2016

Continuing his government’s efforts to boost alliances within the Balkans, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is due in Sofia on Monday for talks with Bulgarian government officials that are expected to focus on improving cooperation in the energy sector.

Tsipras and his Bulgarian counterpart Boyko Borisov are to jointly chair a session of a bilateral council that is to examine the scope for cooperation in various sectors of the economy, including energy and transport.

The two countries have already participated in the Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria (IGB) gas pipeline and have agreed to create a liquefied natural gas terminal near Alexandroupoli in northern Greece.