BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 29. The importance at present of setting up new interconnectors is clear, as security of energy supply and security of energy is under severe pressure, Cyril Widdershoven, a Middle East geopolitical specialist and energy analyst, a partner at Dutch risk consultancy VEROCY, and Global Head Strategy Risk at Berry Commodities told Trend.
He was commenting on the upcoming launch of the Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria (IGB) on October 1.
“Russian actions in the Baltic, Ukraine and even possibly the North Sea shows that increased energy connections within Europe, but especially also in the Balkans/SE Europe is a necessity. The lack of high value/volume interconnections is still a major threat to possible disturbances or flows of oil, gas and even electricity,” said the expert.
Widdershoven pointed out that it increases the overall links and possible additional routes that energy flows can go or reach markets in the region.
“In contrast to NW Europe, where there is high volume connectivity, the SE European arena is still less developed, so currently highly at risk. The region’s energy map is also changing for the better, as more interconnectors also will increase potential volumes needed in the rest of Europe, but now being put in the system in the south,” he explained.
IGB is of key importance for increasing the security of gas supplies and for ensuring the diversification of natural gas sources for Bulgaria and the wider region of Southeast Europe. The project connects Bulgaria to the Southern Gas Corridor and will enable secure supplies from a variety of sources to countries in Southeast and Central Europe, including Moldova and Ukraine.
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