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From Bulgaria

20.12.2017 16:39

Borissov: The Interconnector with Turkey Will Be Ready in July 2018

Bulgartransgaz announced the ranking in the auction for the feasibility study for a new gas pipeline between Bulgarian borders with Turkey and Serbia

AUTHOR: publics.bg

As for the Balkan Gas Hub, the Prime Minister clarified that the project is not about transit, but rather about gas trading in the Bulgarian gas hub.
© Council of Ministers
Four companies have submitted offers for the feasibility study for a new gas pipeline, one of which has been suspended.
© Bulgatransgaz

The interconnector with Turkey will be ready in July 2018, Boyko Borissov, the Prime Minister of Bulgaria told reporters in Brussels on the occasion of a publication in a Turkish newspaper that Turkish Stream would deviate to Bulgaria, instead of Greece. He reminded that an inspection of the construction of the interconnection was conducted in August.

The issue is about a 20-kilometer section of the pipeline between Lozenets and Nedyalsko (looping) which helps achieve a slight increase of the transmission capacity from the current 15 billion cubic metres (bcm) annually in a straight direction – from Bulgaria to Turkey.

“We agreed with Turkey, president Putin, we signed with Serbia for 10 bcm and with Macedonia – for 1 bcm and we prepared for July 2018 and we will reverse the flow so that our pipes are not left empty”, Borissov said, referring to Russia’s intention to stop the transit through Ukraine after Turkish Stream is built. This directly affects Bulgaria, which transits Russian gas for Turkey, Greece, Serbia and small volumes to Macedonia. Boyko Borissov added that the completion of the project will enable the reversion of the gas flow in the opposite direction – from Turkey to Bulgaria.

In relation to the Balkan Gas Hub, the Prime Minister said that work towards its realization is underway, but president Putin requires a solid guarantee from the EU. He explained that they have such a guarantee but it is not a solid one and reminded that a Turkish Stream deviation to Bulgaria is being negotiated. “One of the Turkish Stream pipes goes to Istanbul and the other – to Bulgaria, otherwise we are left off the gas transmission network. I have informed my colleagues Tusk and Juncker about this. This is the Turkish Stream scheme in Juncker’s office”, he commented.

As for the Balkan Gas Hub, the Prime Minister clarified that the project is not about transit, but rather about gas trading in the Bulgarian gas hub. “Each buyer will pay, we will transport. The gas hub’s name is Balkan, and I add European to its name”, highlighted Borissov.

Meanwhile, it became clear that there are 4 offers for the preparation of the feasibility study for a new gas pipeline between our borders with Turkey and Serbia. As publics.bg informed, the starting point of the new pipe is set to be immediately close to the existing connection between the Bulgatransgaz’s and Turkish operator BOTAS’s gas transmission network. The pipeline then would continue until It reaches Compressor Station Provadia (CS Provadia) as a part of the existing infrastructure (see the picture) and from there it would go near Zaječar on the border between Bulgaria and Serbia where would be its exit point. Commercial exploitation of the new gas pipeline is expected to begin on 1 January 2020.