The Greece-Bulgaria gas connection enters commercial operation today

The gas connection between Bulgaria and Greece will have Act 16 as early as today. This was announced by regional minister Ivan Shishkov. It is expected that after the interconnector is operational, the price of natural gas will fall below the current level of BGN 350 per megawatt hour.

All the necessary documents to obtain the Act 16 connection have already been collected - with the help of the state - and submitted to the National Security Agency. Thus, the decision to use is expected to be issued tomorrow. The official opening will take place in the NDK on Saturday. The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, the presidents of North Macedonia and Serbia, as well as the Greek prime minister, will attend the event. The host of the ceremony will be the Bulgarian head of state Rumen Radev.

And the Commission for Energy and Water Regulation meets to discuss the price of gas for October. "Bulgargaz" has already submitted a proposal to drop it by a little over 100 BGN - to 247 BGN per megawatt hour. Already last week, the company promised to make an attempt to make the tariff even lower, Nova TV recalls. Blue fuel supplies from Azerbaijan to Bulgargaz will become significantly cheaper after the new gas pipeline is put into operation. These supplies were contracted by the state-owned company ten years ago. Thanks to the incoming cheap fuel, it will be possible to ensure the work of the business, as well as the heating systems during the coming winter.

The gas pipeline is of key importance not only for Bulgaria, but also for the countries of the region, which are desperately looking for new sources of natural gas at the moment. The new connection can safely deliver significant amounts of blue fuel to Romania, Moldova and even Ukraine.

At the same time, the gas pipeline will enable the import of additional quantities of natural gas through the other gas connection with Greece between Kulata and Sidirokastro. Thus, a new gas infrastructure will in practice lead to significant changes in the gas market in our country, and the country can finally boast that it has achieved gas diversification.

The Greek media called the opening of the gas connection between Greece and Bulgaria a "new era", BNR also reported.

"On the 1st of October, the energy map of Europe changes, a new era begins", wrote the newspaper "Capital" today on the occasion of the official opening of the Komotini-Stara Zagora gas connection. The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will also attend the ceremony.

"In anticipation of a difficult energy winter, Bulgaria secures Azeri gas from Greece," emphasizes the newspaper "Proto Tema". In this regard, experts comment, the neighboring Balkan countries, such as Serbia, North Macedonia and even Moldova, can receive gas through Bulgaria.

The situation will change next year, when the liquefied gas terminal next to Alexandroupolis will be put into operation, is the highlight of the "Vora" newspaper. Energy experts emphasized to the Greek media that Azeri gas is cheaper than Russian gas.