Bulgaria Breaks Ground on Key Gas Pipeline Link, Bolstering European Energy Security

Bulgaria began operation Monday connected a large caller subdivision of its earthy state transmission network, marking a important measurement successful the improvement of the Vertical Gas Corridor.

This strategical vigor task aims to trim dependence connected Russian vigor and bolster determination proviso information crossed cardinal and eastbound Europe.

The groundbreaking ceremonial was attended by Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov, Greek Minister of Environment and Energy Stavros Papastavrou, Bulgarian Energy Minister Zheko Stankov, and Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto.

The caller pipeline conception successful Kresna connects Bulgaria’s grid to determination infrastructure that links confederate state introduction points successful Greece to bluish and cardinal Europe.

Seven countries are participating successful the broader inaugural — Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Moldova, and Ukraine — with 9 state operators involved.

Mr. Papastavrou emphasized the strategical and geopolitical value of the project.

“The South-North state axis is becoming a reality,” helium said. “Natural state starting from our state volition present scope Central and Eastern Europe. This strengthens some vigor autonomy and Europe’s information of supply, portion besides enhancing Greece’s relation arsenic a determination vigor hub.”

The task is expected to beryllium completed successful the archetypal 4th of 2026.

It includes an enlargement of capableness astatine 2 cardinal interconnection points — Sidirokastro astatine the Greek-Bulgarian borderline and Kresna astatine the Bulgarian-Romanian borderline — enabling the travel of accrued volumes of earthy state from confederate terminals, including Greek liquefied earthy state (LNG) facilities, to bluish markets.

The Vertical Gas Corridor is simply a captious constituent of Europe’s diversification strategy, peculiarly pursuing the crisp driblet successful Russian state imports triggered by the warfare successful Ukraine.

The inaugural is intended to make a resilient north-south state proviso concatenation that bypasses accepted east-west routes and reduces dependency connected a azygous source.

In caller years, Greece has invested heavy successful its vigor infrastructure, including LNG terminals and interconnectors, positioning itself arsenic a cardinal introduction constituent for alternate state supplies into Europe.

The Vertical Corridor is supported by operators including DESFA and Gastrade from Greece; Bulgartransgaz and ICGB from Bulgaria; Transgaz from Romania; FGSZ from Hungary; Eustream from Slovakia; VMTG from Moldova; and GTSOU from Ukraine.

Mr. Papastavrou’s sojourn and information successful the motorboat lawsuit reflects increasing determination practice connected vigor information arsenic Europe transitions to a much integrated and autarkic vigor system.