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The Minister of Environment and Energy, Costas Skrekas, described the Greece-Bulgaria IGB interconnected gas pipeline under construction as a “very important project”, visiting the metering station of the project in Komotini this afternoon, together with the Prime Minister of Bulgaria, Kirillos Petro of Alexander Nikolov.
“This is a very important project at critical times, with geopolitical developments putting a lot of pressure on the energy sector,” he said, stressing that the completion of the project would significantly increase the geopolitical importance of the region and help diversify energy sources.
“A new era begins in the cooperation between Greece and Bulgaria in the field of energy for the good of our two peoples,” said the minister, who together with Messrs. Petkov and Nikolov were given a tour of the Komotini metering station under construction by executives of the construction company AVAX and they themselves witnessed the progress of the work.
Representing today the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, I welcomed the good friend of Greece, the Prime Minister of Bulgaria Mr. Petkov and my counterpart, the Minister of Energy. We visited the construction site of the gas pipeline that connects Greece and “182 km, which upgrades the region geopolitically, helps us to differentiate and become independent of Russian gas, to improve the competitiveness of our two countries’ economies. It also enhances liquidity in energy transfer and this pushes energy prices down.” , Mr. Skrekas stated characteristically, noting that “at the same time, we ensure the further improvement of the bilateral cooperation through the energy sector”.
The Minister even referred to the new interconnection line Greece-Bulgaria Maritsa East 1 (BG) – Nea Santa (EL), noting that the completion of the interconnection “almost quadruples the capacity of electricity transfer to and from Bulgaria and Greece and vice versa, with to reduce energy prices and to take advantage of each country’s competitive advantage “.
“A new era of cooperation is opening, starting with the energy sector,” Mr Skrekas said, adding that “we have other plans” as the dramatic geopolitical developments, which are the worst in Europe in decades, have caused enormous crisis in energy and the European economy in general, threatening households and businesses “.
Our country, the minister added, “through the development of cooperation with neighboring countries is trying to become a pole of energy stability in Southeast Europe”, ensuring the energy security of the wider region and achieving “what we ultimately want for Greek economy but also the Greek households “.
K. Petkov: The IGB gives us the differentiation we need
For his part, the importance of the project was praised by the Prime Minister of Bulgaria Kirill Petkov, emphasizing that “it gives us the differentiation that we all hope to see”.
“This differentiation,” the Bulgarian prime minister stressed, “is important both for Bulgaria to differentiate itself from Russian gas, the only one we can get now, and for Greece as it creates great export potential as the pipeline passes through Greek territory.” , but also with the liquefied natural gas from Alexandroupolis “.
Mr Petkov thanked the two energy ministers for their hard work and that the result of this close co-operation was “more progress in the last three months than a whole year ago”.
He also referred to the electricity interconnection plans between our two countries and noted that while Bulgaria will import natural gas from this pipeline it will be able to export electricity to Greece at the same time and this is the meaning of an integrated (coherent) system: meeting the needs. one country from the other and vice versa, creating “a common economic area, where we will feel stronger, with greater potential for diversification (s.s. in energy sources), more efficient”.
The Bulgarian prime minister also said he had received a promise from the Greek construction company that the project would be completed by June. “It is very important for me to keep this promise and I have full confidence that this will happen.”
“This project is crucial not only for Bulgaria and Greece but for the whole of Southeastern Europe,” said Bulgarian Energy Minister Alexander Nikolov, noting that the project would help the two countries’ mutual development and increase competitiveness. their. He also expressed his satisfaction with the fact that the work of the FSRU in Alexandroupolis is also progressing rapidly.
A complex project of high importance
The Greece-Bulgaria Natural Gas Interconnection Pipeline (IGB), manufactured by AVAX, is 182 km long, 32 inches in diameter and will have an annual capacity of 5 bcm. This is a complex project of high importance, as the IGB pipeline will connect the existing national gas transmission pipeline in Komotini and the Greek section of the Trans Adriatic pipeline (TAP) with the existing gas transmission and distribution pipeline near the Bulgarian city of Stara Za. .
The announcement of the Minister Environment and Energy
The Greek-Bulgarian gas pipeline (IGB) strengthens the energy competitiveness and security of Greece and the wider region and its implementation is an important step in establishing the country as a transit gas hub for the whole of Southeast Europe, but also for the diversification of sources. reducing dependence on Russian gas.
This is pointed out by the Ministry of Environment and Energy, in a statement on the occasion of the inspection of the project carried out today in Komotini by the Bulgarian Prime Minister, Kiril Petkov, who was welcomed by the Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the Minister of Environment & Energy, K.
The Minister of Energy of Bulgaria, Alexander Nikolov, also participated in the inspection of the project, while from the Greek side, the CEO of DEPA Trade, Costas Xifaras, and the Governor of Eastern Macedonia Thrace, Christos Metios, were present.
The 182 km long IGB pipeline will connect Komotini with Stara Zagora, Bulgaria. Its capacity amounts to 3 billion cubic meters (bcm / a) per year, with the possibility of increasing to 5 bcm / a, with the additional installation of a compression station. The project has a budget of 220m euros. The pipeline is expected to be completed by the middle of the year.
The Minister of Environment and Energy, Costas Skrekas, stated:
“At a time when dramatic developments in Ukraine have triggered the most serious geopolitical crisis in recent decades in Europe, the Greek-Bulgarian IGB pipeline is a project that promotes energy security in the region. It establishes our country’s role as a transit hub for gas. Southeastern Europe and upgrades the region geopolitically.
In the face of fragile international circumstances, we are strengthening Greece’s energy competitiveness and creating new export prospects. Combined with the completion by the end of the year of the new electricity interconnection of the two countries, the project marks a new era of enhanced and multidimensional energy cooperation between Greece and Bulgaria. “With a common axis the well-being of our citizens, we jointly plan and upgrade the future of the two countries in a sustainable and competitive direction.”
Source: Capital
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