The construction of a 182.5 km gas pipeline from Komotini in Greece to Stara Zagora in Bulgaria improves security of supply while diversifying routes and sources of gas imports for both countries and the wider south-east Europe region. The pipeline has an annual transmission capacity of 3 billion cubic metres of natural gas (bcm)/year (380.5 kNm3/h) and has been designed to transport gas with forward and reverse flows. It has a pre-engineered option to increase capacity to 5 bcm/year through the installation of an intermediate compressor station. Around 83 % of the pipeline is in Bulgaria and about 17 % in Greece.
- 12 September 2019
The project provides strategic value to the region’s gas supply network. By unlocking an additional route between south-east and central eastern Europe, the pipeline becomes part of the vertical Southern Gas Corridor. The corridor is included in the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Gas Ten Year Network Development Plan of 2018.
Low-carbon boost
The project indirectly upgrades gas supply in the project area, boosting economic activity and helping to meet the energy needs of the local population. It increases role of natural gas as a fuel in a low-carbon economy, and improves infrastructure integration in the region.
Specifically, the pipeline contributes to Bulgaria’s economic development by improving security of gas supply through the provision of additional capacity. It diversifies supply routes and sources through Greece by linking with complementary supplies from the Caspian Region, the Middle East and the East Mediterranean through existing and new terminals in Greece and Turkey.
In addition, the pipeline helps improve security of supply and avoids supply disruptions by being interconnected with the other gas transmission systems in the region. These connections in turn provide access for the south-east Europe markets to the Southern Corridor; enable Ukraine and Central Europe to access the corridor; and contribute to the implementation of a vertical corridor sponsored by the EU within the Central and South Eastern European Gas Connectivity framework.
A ‘smart’ pipeline
The infrastructure provided through this project can be called a ‘smart pipeline’ because its operations are sophisticated and electronically monitored. Daily operations can be carried out with a small number of people on site. As a result, the project will only make a minor contribution to employment in the region. Some local jobs will be generated, mainly relating to maintenance requirements.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “Gas Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria” is EUR 240 221 595, with the EU’s European Regional Development Fund contributing EUR 33 150 000 through the “Innovations and Competitiveness” Operational Programme for the 2014-2020 programming period. The investment falls under the priority “Transport and energy networks”.