BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb.12
By Leman Zeynalova – Trend:
The successful implementation of the strategic and large-scale Southern Gas Corridor project is an essential part of the achievements over the past six years in the field of diversification of gas supplies, Bulgarian Energy Minister Temenuzhka Petkova said, Trend reports.
Addressing the 7th meeting of the Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council, the minister noted that this project strengthens the energy security of Bulgaria and the Southeast Europe and the European Union as a whole.
Petkova went on to add that Bulgaria started receiving Azerbaijani gas via the Southern Gas Corridor on Dec.31, 2020.
In the next 25 years, with the entry into force of the contract for the supply of 1 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year from the Shah Deniz 2 field, Azerbaijan will be the second gas supplier for Bulgaria, added the minister.
She noted that Bulgaria is an integral part of the development of the Southern Gas Corridor through the interconnector Greece-Bulgaria, which has important geostrategic importance for the diversification of gas supplies: “The project also plays a key role in the implementation of the joint initiative of Greece, Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary to build a Vertical Gas Corridor for supplies from south to north. Despite the delay in the project due to t COVID-19, according to contractors, it is expected to be put into commercial operation in the second half of this year.”
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