BAKU, Azerbaijan, Nov.12
By Leman Zeynalova – Trend:
The representatives ICGB AD haven’t been notified by the EPC contractor AVAX that a 6-months extension would be requested for construction of the Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria (IGB), ICGB AD, the project company told Trend.
“We cannot confirm such information. Furthermore, in July and September 2021, meetings were held with the Bulgarian Minister of Energy and the Bulgarian Minister of Finance, during which representatives of AVAX confirmed that they would complete the construction within the agreed timeline. A letter was sent by the Bulgarian Ministry of Energy, informing AVAX that in case of delays under the agreed terms, a penalty in the agreed amount would be imposed. An identical letter was sent by the Executive Directors of the project company ICGB in September 2021,” the company said.
ICGB AD noted that the period for entering commercial exploitation for the IGB pipeline has been approved by the national energy regulators of Greece and Bulgaria – EWRC and RAE – and is set for July 2022.
“ICGB is hopeful that all involved parties will fulfil their contractual obligations in a timely manner so that this deadline can be met accordingly. The IGB project is of utmost importance for both Greece and Bulgaria and any new delays wouldn’t correspond with the national interests of the two countries.”
Work on the construction of the Greece-Bulgaria interconnector and the implementation of the main construction activities are progressing at a good pace; the welding activities are completed at 96 percent. Over 145 km of the 182-kilometer route are now ready and lowered in the trench.
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