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.
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