site.bta Gas Interconnector with Romania to Be Ready by September

Gas Interconnector with Romania to Be Ready by September

Sofia, July 21 (BTA) - The gas interconnector with Romania is expected to be ready by the beginning of September, Bulgartransgaz Executive Director Georgi Gegov told journalists here on Thursday. He took part in the public discussion at the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (EWRC) about the ten year development plan for the gas transmission networks.

"We talked with our Romanian colleagues, who expressed their readiness to sell locally extracted Romanian gas as soon as this is technically made possible," Gegov said. He expects the first alternative natural gas to come to Bulgaria when construction of the Rousse-Giurgiu interconnector is completed.

Bulgartransgaz is to hold talks with Macedonia about the construction of an interconnector between the two countries, Gegov said. He later explained that the Macedonian side has expressed interest in building the interconnector in the southwestern region of Petrich, because the neighbouring region in Macedonia is not supplied with gas, while Bulgaria has a good compressor station on its territory there.

Gegov told EWRC that the feasibility study was completed this year and the main parameters of the gas interconnector with Turkey are ready. He told journalists that what is happening there is pretty concerning for the region as a whole.

Asked about the possibilities for building a second natural gas storage facility in Bulgaria, he said that there are designated areas in Bulgaria, which could be studied, but this is just an idea right now.

Interest is growing in virtual trading of natural gas with Greece, Gegov said, adding that an agreement for virtual trading was also signed with Romania last week.