The Bulgarian gas transmission operator Bulgartransgaz EAD and the operator of the gas transmission system of the Republic of Serbia Transportgas Srbija d.o.o. signed an Interconnection Agreement for the new point Kalotina/Dimitrovgrad, which is created by the Interconnection Bulgaria - Serbia (IBS). The document was signed by the Executive Director of Bulgartransgaz EAD, Vladimir Malinov, and the Director of Transportgas Srbija, Zoran Jovčić.
“The capacity of IP Kalotina/Dimitrovgrad is 1.8 bcm/year with the possibility for a reverse flow. The efforts of Bulgartransgaz EAD to improve the interconnectivity with the neighbouring countries and to ensure access to diverse gas sources from reliable sources, including liquefied natural gas from the terminal in Alexandroupolis are important for the entire region”, Malinov said.
“The signing of the Interconnection Agreement for the IP Kalotina/Dimitrovgrad is yet another step to the better integration of the energy markets and deepening of the energy and economic cooperation between the two countries”, Malinov added. „I am convinced that the access along this route to gas from alternative sources, such as Azerbaijan and the LNG terminals and the trading platform of Balkan Gas Hub EAD that ensures the connectivity to the network of Bulgartransgaz will be positively assessed by the users in Serbia“, he emphasized.
Thanks to the IBS, Bulgaria will get access to gas sources from Western Europe along a new route, and Serbia to LNG terminals and other alternative sources in the region.
As part of the priority projects for Europe, the Interconnection Bulgaria – Serbia has been acknowledged to be a key infrastructure that will contribute significantly to the improvement of the energy interconnectivity. The EC acknowledges the contribution of the project to the accomplishment of the single objectives of the EU member states, especially an affordable, secure and sustainable energy for all citizens, and in the longer term the decarbonisation of the economy. Under the Connecting Europe Facility, the project received funding in the amount of EUR 28 million as well as EUR 2,8 million under the Operational Programme Innovation and Competitiveness.
