The Independent Natural Gas Transmission Operator of the Greece–Bulgaria Interconnector (ICGB) has announced the launch of two new cross-border routes – Route 2 and Route 3 – within the framework of the Vertical Gas Corridor, a strategic initiative connecting the south with the markets of Southeast Europe, Moldova, and Ukraine.
ICGB operates the IGB pipeline, which links the Greek city of Komotini with the Bulgarian city of Stara Zagora. This pipeline is part of a broader network enabling the transport of natural gas from various sources (the Alexandroupolis LNG terminal, the Trans Adriatic Pipeline – TAP, etc.) to Bulgaria, Southeast Europe, and further to Ukraine and Moldova.
The project in question is being implemented in cooperation with the transmission system operators of Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, and Ukraine, with the goal of strengthening the region’s energy security and ensuring the direct transport of gas from northern Greece to Ukrainian underground storage facilities before the winter season, according to the ICGB website.
More:
- Assessment of Nuclear Power Plants in the Netherlands and Slovenia – Krško to Operate Until 2043
- Finland Develops the Most Advanced Radioactive Waste Disposal System
- Ghana on Track to Become One of the First West African Countries with a Large-Scale Nuclear Power Plant
Capacities will be offered exclusively as monthly products through a single uniform-price auction, with all project participants agreeing on a 25 percent discount on standard monthly tariffs, while ICGB and the Ukrainian GTSOU are offering even greater discounts of 46 percent – the largest in the region.
These capacities will be available solely for exit to Ukraine, without access to national virtual trading points or domestic exit points in transit countries. With the introduction of these routes, ICGB further consolidates its role as the central artery of the Vertical Gas Corridor, connecting diversified gas sources with Northeastern Europe.
