"It is a challenge to bring together the efforts of seven countries and nine gas transmission operators but our common values - to ensure security of supply and diversification of sources and routes, to contribute to a liberalized and competitive market with affordable natural gas prices - have yielded results and we have proven that we are able to address these challenges. About two years ago, Bulgartransgaz was among the initiators and together with the other operators we revived the Vertical Gas Corridor initiative and today this project is already being implemented." This was said by Bulgartransgaz EAD Executive Director, Vladimir Malinov during inspection in the area of the village of Mikrevo, Strumyani on the progress of infrastructure construction. The event was attended by the Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov, the Minister of Energy Zhecho Stankov, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Hungary Peter Siarto, the Minister of Environment and Energy Stavros Papastavrou and other officials.
“The project is supported by the Energy Community, the European Union and the United States administration” emphasized Vladimir Malinov. According to him, the Vertical Corridor is of regional importance and is an expression of the countries’ solidarity with Moldova and Ukraine, which will getaccess to liquefied natural gas.
“Bulgartransgaz, together with the gas transmission operators of Greece, Romania, Moldova and Ukraine, created and offered to the market a route product for gas transmission from Greece to Ukraine with 25% discount. This will enable Ukraine to secure part of the necessary natural gas quantities from various sources, including from the USA and others via the Trans-Balkan route.
The connection of the gas transmission networks of Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, as well as Moldova and Ukraine through the Vertical Corridor will guarantee energy supplies from reliable partners. Bulgartransgaz was the first company to make an investment decision for its projects, part of the Vertical Corridor aimed to increase the capacity for natural gas transmission between Greece and Bulgaria, and between Bulgaria and Romania. In the middle of next year, we plan to put both projects into operation,” Vladimir Malinov added.
