The European Commission approved the project of Bulgartransgaz EAD, entitled Hydrogen Infrastructure in Bulgaria for financing with 4,56 million euros, excluding VAT. It has a status of a project of common interest for the European Union and the funds are granted from the Connecting Europe Facility.
„The approved financing by the EC institutions is another piece of good news for the Bulgarian gas transmission operator, which maintains its leading role in ensuring the security in the region with the implementation of the Vertical Corridor and its participation in the digital corridor between Asia and Europe. The energy infrastructure, developed by Bulgartransgaz strengthens the role of Bulgartransgaz in achieving the European and national goals for the energy transition in the region," the Executive Director of the company, Vladimir Malinov, said.
The project represents the first development phase of the Bulgarian "hydrogen backbone" and is a key part of the South-East European Hydrogen Corridor, connecting Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Germany. Bulgartransgaz's project envisages the construction of a hydrogen route with a length of about 250 km between Sofia and the Bulgarian-Greek border at Kulata together with 2 new compressor stations and adjacent facilities thereto.
Within this call for proposals, Bulgartransgaz project is the only hydrogen investment in East Europe that has been approved. Activities are expected for the feasibility study; spatial design; environmental procedures; archaeological studies; investment design in its technical design phase.
„The hydrogen projects that we work on create new perspectives for the development of the Bulgarian energy sector“, Vladimir Malinov said. „The hydrogen and the natural gas occupy a leading position in the energy mix of the future. The development by Bulgartransgaz of the necessary infrastructures will create the conditions required for the supply of the region with clean, reliable and affordable energy“, he added.
