site.btaKey Contracts Signed for Greece-Bulgaria Gas Interconnector Construction

October 10 (BTA) - Key contracts for the Greece-Bulgaria
Gas Interconnector were signed Thursday at the Ministry of
Energy. Both parties signed a tax regime agreement for the
Interconnector project, as well as other contracts connected to
key commitments and activities for the construction of the
interconnector, including a loan agreement between the European
Investment Bank and Bulgarian Energy Holding EAD, gas
transmission agreements, etc.

Energy Minister Temenouzhka Petkova said that this is an
important day, which will enable the implementation of this
long-awaited project  that is key not only for Bulgaria but also
 for Southeast Europe. According to her, this project will bring
 change to the whole region and guarantee its energy security.
According to Petkova with the documents signed today, the
project for the construction of the interconnector between
Bulgaria and Greece is already irreversible and its work is
guaranteed in the coming decades. The commercial operation of
the interconnector will begin in the second half of 2020.

Greece's Energy and Environment Minister Konstantinos Hatzidakis
 said the final contract for the project was signed today,
adding that it was 10 years in the making. Hatzidakis criticized
 the delay and noted  his hopes that such things will not happen
 in the future.

The Greece-Bulgaria interconnector will be able to supply
Caspian gas from the Trans-Adriatic gas pipeline (TAP) and
liquefied gas from Alexandroupolis. In addition, this project is
 proof of the good cooperation between Bulgaria and Greece, 
Hadzidakis also said. ZH/DT







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