Greece and Bulgaria inaugurated a long-delayed gas pipeline Saturday, which will help decrease southeast Europe’s dependence on Russian gas and boost energy security.
A Bold Bulgarian Gas Plan
Bulgaria hopes the construction of a 182-km gas pipeline will help it secure gas supplies at affordable prices, following Russia’s April decision to cut off deliveries over Sofia’s refusal to pay in rubles.
The IGB pipeline will transport 1 billion cubic meters of gas from Azerbaijan to Bulgaria.
“This pipeline is a game changer. It’s a game changer for Bulgaria and for Europe’s energy security. And it means freedom. It means freedom from dependency on Russian gas. “Both here in Bulgaria and across Europe people are feeling the consequences of Russia’s war. But thanks to projects like this, Europe will have enough gas for the winter,” said Ursula von der Leyen.
Russia has severed gas exports to Europe in response to Western sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine, leaving European Union countries scrambling to secure alternative sources amid surging prices.
Exploring New Boundaries
The pipeline is projected to have an initial capacity of 3 bcm per year, with plans to raise it to 5 bcm. It may provide non-Russian gas to Serbia, North Macedonia, Romania, Moldova, and Ukraine. A Bulgarian-Greek-Italian joint venture controls the pipeline of €240 million ($235.18 million).
The IGB Pipeline will carry gas from the northern Greek city of Komotini to Stara Zagora in Bulgaria. The project is part of the Southern Gas Corridor, which transports Azerbaijani gas from the Caspian Sea to Europe.
In response to the new gas pipeline opening, operators in Bulgaria, Romania, and Hungary have proposed to transport increased Azeri shipments through their networks to central Europe. However, Europe receives over 40 million cubic meters of gas from Russia per month. Replacing that provision will prove challenging, although the new pipeline is a step in the right direction.
