BAKU, Azerbaijan, Apr.19
By Leman Zeynalova - Trend:
The horizontal directional drilling (HDD) for the Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria (IGB) is expected to begin in summer, ICGB AD, a project company told Trend.
“The EPC contractor has initiated preparations for the HDD (horizontal directional drilling) crossings under the Maritza River bed and the Studen kladenetz dam. Workers on site are setting up the first location for the HDD process, carrying out only the procedures currently allowed by law with respect to the local wildlife. Drilling is expected to begin in the summer season in order for the contractor to comply with the Environmental Assessment Act.
Current estimates indicate that the EPC contractor is on track with his confirmed commitment to complete all key activities on the construction of the IGB project by the end of December 2021,” said the company.
The IGB gas pipeline will be connected with the Greek national gas transmission system in the area of Komotini and with the Bulgarian national gas transmission system in the area of Stara Zagora. The planned length of the pipeline is 182 km, the pipeline diameter will be 32” and the projected capacity will be up to 3 bcm/y in the direction from Greece to Bulgaria. Depending on the interest from the market and the capacities of the neighboring gas transmission systems, the pipeline is designed for increasing its capacity up to 5 bcm/y for following up the market evolution thus allowing physical reverse flow (from Bulgaria to Greece) with the additional installation of a compressor station. A Memorandum for cooperation between ICGB AD and TAP AG has been signed concerning joint actions in relation to future connection between the IGB pipeline and the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline.
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