site.btaEuropean Commission Supports Construction of Bulgaria-Greece Gas Interconnector

European Commission Supports Construction of Bulgaria-Greece Gas Interconnector


Selim, Eastern Turkey, March 17 (BTA) - The construction of a
natural gas interconnector between Bulgaria and Greece and the
European Commission's support for the project were discussed by
Bulgarian Energy Minister Temenouzhka Petkova and European
Commission Vice President for the Energy Union Maros Sefcovic,
the Energy Ministry reported on Tuesday. The two met during the
groundbreaking ceremony for the Trans-Anatolian Gas Pipeline
(TANAP), which was held in the eastern Turkish town of Selim.

Petkova and Sefcovic considered the Bulgaria-Greece gas
interconnector as part of the Southern Gas Corridor. Sefcovic
said the European Commission supports the interconnector project
because it is important not only for Bulgaria but also for the
entire European Union.

Petkova said her government has taken all necessary measures to
speed up the project. The Bulgarian national budget in 2015
includes an allocation of 80 million euro as a government
guarantee for the Bulgaria-Greece interconnector, which is part
of the efforts for prompt construction of the pipeline, she
said.

Bulgaria is working with its Greek partners to accelerate the
process even more, Petkova said. She told Sefcovic that Bulgaria
has drawn up a roadmap for the project, which stipulates that
it will be completed in 2018. The costs are estimated at 220
million euro.

Petkova also updated Sefcovic on the progress of other gas
interconnector projects between Bulgaria and its neighbours,
which are important for diversifying the sources and routes of
natural gas supply to Bulgaria.

Bulgaria is in the home stretch to building a gas interconnector
with Romania, which is expected to be completed by the end of
the year, the Minister said. In the case of the Bulgaria-Turkey
interconnector, Sofia has submitted to Ankara a feasibility
report and is expecting an answer before the technical
parameters are considered.

Petkova thanked Sefcovic for the European Commission's support
for the construction of the gas interconnectors between Bulgaria
and its neighbours, particularly the pipeline between Bulgaria
and Greece. She said Bulgaria also counts on the Commission's
cooperation in upgrading its national gas network.

Sefcovic said that Bulgaria's integration into the European gas
network will make gas supplies more secure. LI/VE

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