Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov.13
By Leman Zeynalova – Trend:
The ICGB AD, a company engaged in the implementation of the Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria (IGB) project, has announced a tender for the selection of owner’s engineer for construction, Trend learned from the company.
“The owner’s engineer will provide crucial assistance to ICGB AD for the implementation of the IGB project during the construction phase through to interconnector’s commissioning, supporting the management of the major contracts,” said the company.
Reportedly, the estimated value of the public procurement is set as a total price of 8.45 million euros, excluding VAT.
“The services shall be implemented according to the schedule for the project’s realization in compliance with a contractual strategy involving the award of two main contracts - a contract for the supply of line pipes and a contract for EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction), the supply of the remaining equipment, construction and installation, training of personnel and entering into operation of the IGB pipeline,” said the company.
These activities will be implemented in two phases –during the tendering phase of the project and subsequently during the construction phase, according to the message.
“The tendering program is fully aligned with scheduling for works and preparations are on track for construction to start by mid-2018. By the end of the year ICGB AD will be issuing invitations to tender for the supply of line pipes and a public procurement for the award of the detailed engineering, procurement and construction (EPC),” said the company.
The IGB is an EU Project of Common interest as well as a main priority project of the EU’s CESEC initiative for gas interconnectivity in Central and Southern Europe. In this context, the European Investment Bank and other international credit institutions have expressed an active interest in financing the Project, and instruments including the new European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) may also be used. The Bulgarian government in turn has included in the state budget for 2017 access to an increased amount of state financial guarantee when negotiating loan facilities for the project of up to 110 million euros.
The construction of IGB is planned to start in 2018. On September 12, Bulgaria’s Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works issued a permit for construction of IGB on Bulgaria’s territory.
“After adoption of the decision for exemption, which is expected for next year, we will be able to submit for a building permit in Greece," Teodora Georgieva, executive officer at ICGB AD joint venture company, the project’s operator, earlier told Trend.
IGB is a gas pipeline, which will allow Bulgaria to receive Azerbaijani gas, in particular, the gas produced from Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz 2 gas and condensate field. IGB is expected to be connected to the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) via which gas from the Shah Deniz field will be delivered to the European markets.
The initial capacity of IGB will be 3 billion cubic meters of gas. The project’s cost is estimated at around 240 million euros.
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