Greek natural gas transmission system operator DESFA has completed the first
phase of the works for the second upgrade of the border metering station in
Sidirokastro, part of the Gas Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria (IGB Pipeline),
enabling natural gas exports towards Bulgaria, the company said.
"In the
near future, it is expected by companies that are active in the natural gas
markets of both countries to express interest for the commercial use of the new
capacity that was created in the interconnection point of the natural gas
transmission network between Greece and Bulgaria," DESFA said in a statement on
Wednesday.
The Greek company also said it has invested a total of 3.3
million euro ($4.5 million) in the implementation of the project.
The IGB
Pipeline will carry 3.0 billion cubic metres (bcm) of natural gas anually in its
initial stage and will have a maximum capacity of 5.0 bcm per year. It will be
eventually connected to the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), carrying natural gas
from the Caspian Sea to Europe through Greece.
The IGB Pipeline, which
will be 182 kilometre long, will start at the northeastern Greek city of
Komotini and end at Stara Zagora in Bulgaria. It is estimated to cost 220
million euro.
The project has received 45 million euro in EU financial
support throught the European Energy Programme for Recovery and has also been
included by the European Commission in a proposal to the European Parliament for
funding through the Projects of Common Interest programme, a final decision on
which is expected by mid-2014.