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European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency
News article1 February 2023European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency

CEF Energy: the Gas Interconnection Bulgaria – Serbia kicks off constructions works in Bulgarian territory

Beatrice CODA at event for Gas Interconnector Bulgaria-Serbia

On 1 February, BULGARTRANSGAZ held a high-level event in Sofia to celebrate the milestone of launching the construction works of the “Gas Interconnection Bulgaria-Serbia” (aka IBS) in Bulgarian territory. The President of Bulgaria Rumen Radev and the President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić, together with the Ministers of Energy of both countries and other key representatives (including colleagues from DG ENER and CINEA), attended the event and participated in a walk along the route of the interconnection.

The IBS is a Project of Common Interest (PCI) that has been co-funded by the EU under the Connecting Europe Facility Energy programme with EUR 27.6 million. The EU support will contribute to the construction of the total length of the gas interconnector on Bulgarian territory (62 km), from the town of Novi Iskar to the Bulgarian-Serbian border. Besides the gas pipeline network, other technological facilities will be built, such as pigging facilities, valve assemblies, two automated gas-regulating stations (at Slivnitsa and Dragoman) as well as a gas metering station at Kalotina. Following its construction, the gas interconnection will have an estimated throughput capacity of 1.8 bcm/y with a reverse flow capability.

The IBS is therefore a project with strategic importance in increasing the security and diversification of gas supplies and routes, as well as the interconnectivity of the gas transmission systems of both the Republic of Bulgaria and the Republic of Serbia.

The project is of particular importance, not only for Bulgaria, but also for the region and the EU, being part of a significant and comprehensive regional infrastructure, whose capacity and technical capabilities are essential to achieve a well-functioning, efficient and interconnected regional gas market,” said Beatrice CODA, Head of Unit at CINEA, during her speech at the event.

The IBS aims to be completed and operational by December 2023.

More information

Besides this PCI, a number of other PCIs have been supported by CEF Energy in Bulgaria since 2014, receiving a total amount of EUR 218.6 million in CEF Energy funding.

More statistics and Actions funded by CEF Energy in Bulgaria

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