In accordance with the ENTSOG (European Network of Transmission System Operators for Gas) auction calendar, Bulgartransgaz EAD held auctions for firm yearly capacity product at interconnection points with neighbouring countries on the RBP capacity booking platform. Within the framework of the procedure, the users have booked firm yearly capacity at all entry-exit points with Greece, Romania, Serbia, Turkey and North Macedonia at a total value of more than BGN 70 million.
There were 21 Bulgarian and international firms that took part in the auction. The greatest interest is in the exit point Kardam - Negru Voda in the direction from Bulgaria to Romania. The capacity booked at this point for 2025 – 2026 Gas Year amounts to 99 398 Мwh/d that is more than 70% of the offered capacity (a little over 140 000 МWh/d). For comparison, for 2024-2025 the value of the booked yearly capacity product in this direction was 44 710 МWh/d, and for 2023 – 2024 it totalled to 34 800 МWh/d.
„The increased interest in the transmission of natural gas quantities from Bulgaria to Romania is a sign of the continuing need to transport significant natural gas quantities from south to north. "The successful auction once again confirms the trust of the customers in the work of the Bulgarian gas transmission operator as well as the key importance of the infrastructure for the diversification of the supply and the development of the gas market in the region," emphasized the Executive Director of Bulgartransgaz EAD, Vladimir Malinov.
The results of the procedure once again justify the need to implement the Vertical Corridor. The strategic project will allow the transport of additional quantities of natural gas from reliable sources through the gas transmission systems of Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Ukraine, Moldova and Slovakia. The expansion of the existing networks will guarantee the security and the diversification of the gas supply for the Central and Eastern European countries.