site.btaBulgarian and Spanish Gas Transmission Companies Discuss Cooperation in Hydrogen and LNG Projects

Opportunities for cooperation in hydrogen and liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects were discussed between Bulgartransgaz Executive Director Vladimir Malinov and Fernando Impuesto, Director for Business Development and Diversification at Spain's natural gas transmission company Enagas, the Bulgarian operator said on Wednesday.

Enagas has more than 50 years of experience in designing, operating and maintaining energy infrastructure. The company is active in eight countries and operates over 12,000 km of natural gas pipelines, eight LNG terminals and three gas storage facilities.

Malinov presented a pilot project to produce and use green hydrogen for technological purposes at the subsurface gas storage facility in Chiren, Northwestern Bulgaria. In this project, Bulgartransgaz is partnering with Solar Turbines and Honeywell of the United States and Pietro Fiorentini of Italy.

Malinov said that Bulgartransgaz and Greece's DESFA are developing hydrogen infrastructures, including a 250 km hydrogen pipeline from Thessaloniki to Sofia which will form part of a system extending into Central Europe. The European Commission is expected to declare it a project of common interest, he said.

"I will be happy if we share expertise with Enagas in developing hydrogen technologies and creating a hydrogen market," Malinov said.

The sides discussed the role of LNG for the security of energy supplies to Europe. Impuesto said Enagas wants to expand its business in Southeastern Europe.

He and his host concurred that natural gas transmission operators will play an important role in the development of the European hydrogen market. By using well-developed gas transmission networks, it will be possible to reduce hydrogen phase-in costs until hydrogen gets to be produced and used on a mass scale.

According to the press release, natural gas consumption in Southeastern Europe is expected to increase considerably in the next 5 to 10 years as nations develop a low-carbon economy. In this context, Bulgartransgaz continues to develop its network to handle the South-to-North transmission of growing amounts of natural gas. Bulgartransgaz and Enagas plan to sign a memorandum of cooperation.