Natural gas diversification in South - East Europe is a fact thanks to the cooperation between Bulgaria and Greece
Diversification of routes and sources of natural gas supply in the region of South-East Europe is a fact thanks to the excellent cooperation between Bulgaria and Greece in the energy sector. It is of mutual interest to both countries for the projects for constructing Greece-Bulgaria interconnector and a liquefied natural gas terminal near Alexandroupolis to be mutually complementing and not competing ones. Their implementation will establish a competitive environment which will have a beneficial effect on natural gas prices in the region. This is the common position at which arrived the Minister of Energy of Bulgaria Temenuzhka Petkova and the Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Change of Greece Mr. Giorgos Stathakis. The meeting took place in Sofia at the invitation of Minister Petkova.
After the process of implementation of the gas interconnector Greece-Bulgaria has advanced significantly for the past two years, now the representatives of both countries in the shareholding company ICGB have the important task to prepare the documents for launching the public procurement for the selection of a constructor in the autumn, Minister Petkova said. She emphasized that the procedure will be held in compliance with applicable legislation in the field of public procurement and the related obligations for publicity, competitive environment and access of all stakeholders. According to what Minister Petkova said, the procedure for disbursing additional funding at the amount of about EUR 35 million for the project from Innovations and Competitiveness Operational Programme is at its final stage. “We believe that this additional resource, as well as the state guarantee from the budget of Bulgaria, will provide a good financial environment for the implementation of the project” Minister Petkova stated. Minister Stathakis then added that about EUR 12 million have been dedicated from Greek structural funds, they are to be provided to the project. The option was also discussed for holding an additional market test for the remaining quantities of the capacity after the second binding phase of the market test for the project for construction of a gas interconnector with our southern neighbor .
During the Greek visit a meeting was also held of the working group for investigation of the options for participation of the Bulgarian state through Bulgarian Energy Holding EAD in the implementation of the project for construction of a liquefied natural gas terminal near Alexandroupolis. The Final Investment Desision on the Project will be taken in the Q1 of 2018. During the meeting it became clear that commercial operation of the project is intended to start at the end of Q1 2020 in order for it to develop in parallel with the gas interconnector. The participation of BEH and the Greek DEPA in the project is of key importance to ensure its economic viability. Shareholder agreements with them have to be signed by the end of this year.
At the end of the meeting Temenuzhka Petkova said that for the Bulgarian state participation in the project for constructing a liquefied natural gas terminal near Alexandroupolis is of key importance in view of the diversification of sources and routes for supply. She also reminded that recently Bulgaria has supported the project as one of the projects of common interest in EU.
