BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 22. The Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria (IGB) is expected to start operating with expanded capacity as of the fourth quarter of the next year, Teodora Georgieva, Executive Officer of ICGB, the pipeline operator, said in an exclusive interview with Trend.
“As for potential timeline, we’re hopeful to operate with expanded capacity as of Q4 2025 for the IP at Stara Zagora and as of Q4 2026 for the IP at Komotini,” she said.
Georgieva noted that physical works will begin as soon as all relevant procedures have been completed – design, procurement, selecting and awarding a contractor for construction and purchase of equipment.
“ICGB will follow the relevant national and European legislation and the industry’s best practices when putting together all these procedures, just as we have done during the construction phase of the pipeline. Transparency is just as key for us, as it’s always has been,” added the executive director.
The IGB gas pipeline connects with the Greek national gas transmission system (DESFA S.A.) and the Trans-Adriatic gas pipeline (TAP AG) in the area of Komotini (Greece), and with the Bulgarian gas transmission system (Bulgartransgaz EAD) in the area of Stara Zagora. The total length of the gas pipeline is 182 km, the diameter of the pipe - 32'' - and a design capacity of up to 3 billion m3/year in the direction Greece - Bulgaria. Depending on the market interest for larger capacity and the possibilities of the neighboring gas transmission systems, the capacity of IGB is designed with the option for increase up to 5 billion m3/year with additional construction of a compressor station.
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