site.btaPM Borissov: Gas Interconnector with Greece Will be Ready by End of 2021

March 31 (BTA) - Inspecting the progress of works of the gas interconnector between Bulgaria and Greece near the southern town of Dimitrovgrad on Wednesday, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said that the facility is to be completed by the end of 2021, so that liquefied gas from the Greek port of Alexandroupolis may pass through it. Borissov said, quoted by the government's information service, that in future the capacity of the interconnector may be increased to five billion cubic metres annually.

The Prime Minister said that gas from the US, Israel, Egypt and many other sources will come via the interconnector, "so that this is 100 per cent diversification". He said also that active work is underway to expand the Chiren gas storage facility, which is part of the Three Seas initiative where Bulgaria participates.

Construction of the gas interconnector is advancing. At the moment, pipes have been delivered for 150 km of the route. Welding works have been done on 120 km of the pipeline, while 70 km of pipes have been laid in the ground. The total length of the pipeline is 182 km, 150 km of which is on Bulgarian territory.

According to an annex signed with the contractor, they are to comply with the updated schedule of work proposed by them and finish the works by the end of 2021. Interim terms have been agreed for completion of key phases of the works, most important in which are the crossings of large water bodies which are to be completed by mid-October. The construction works go ahead and the initially agreed fixed price of 144.8 million euro will be kept.

The project for the gas interconnector with Greece is of key importance for Bulgaria and the region due to its strategic significance for achieving diversification of gas sources and routes, the government's information service says. The project will improve the energy connectivity in Southeast Europe as it is built in synergy with other major existing and future projects such as TAP and the LNG terminal in Alexandroupolis, where Bulgaria is a full-fledged shareholder. NV/ZH
/DT/