site.btaBulgartransgaz: "Non-Binding Market Test for Vertical Corridor Attracts Extremely High Interest"

"Commercial interest in the non-binding phase of the market test for interconnection points along the Vertical Corridor is extremely high," Bulgartransgaz EAD Executive Director Vladimir Malinov said, quoted by his company in a press release on Monday. "The interest in the Kulata/Sidirokastro [Bulgaria-Greece] and Kardam/Negru Voda [Bulgaria-Romania] points is even double the existing capacities. This is a clear sign that the upward trend in demand for south-north gas transmission along the Vertical Gas Corridor will persist," the CEO commented. He spoke at a Vertical Corridor Business Workshop between Bulgartransgaz, DESFA, IGB, FGSZ, Transgaz, Eustream and Gastrade, held in Thessaloniki on September 8.

In Malinov's words, the capacity along the Vertical Gas Corridor needs to be increased so as to meet the growing flows. "We plan to expand the infrastructure so as to increase the capacity of the Kulata/Sidirokastro and Kardam/Negru Voda interconnection points, after conduct of the necessary procedures in accordance with EU law. This is in synergy with the capacity increase of the Stara Zagora Interconnection Point. These projects are planned to be ready for the future low carbon transition: they could be used for hydrogen and low carbon gases.

The transmission system operators agreed to set up a joint working group by 15 September. The group will cooperate to accelerate the conduct of the binding market test phases for the capacity expansion projects along the Vertical Corridor route. The scope of the capacity expansion projects and their timing will be streamlined in coordination between the operators. Their implementation will ensure the gas supply of Europe and the wider region of our part of Europe from a variety of sources.

Within the framework of the event, Malinov conferred with Moldova's Energy Minister Victor Parlicov. They two discussed the actions necessary to ensure the technical possibility for transmission of sufficient quantities of natural gas to Moldova so as to guarantee the security of supplies to that country, the press release said.