Over 15.5 million MWh have been transferred through the IGB for 2023

Over 15.5 million MWh were transported on the Greece-Bulgaria gas interconnection in 2023. The project celebrated its first anniversary and successfully achieved 365 days of operation without interruption of activities.

The gas pipeline operates with a capacity of 3 billion cubic meters per year, providing about half of Bulgaria's needs for domestic consumption and enabling the transfer of gas to other countries in the region. In the past year, more than 20 new users of the IGV network were registered. By building additional infrastructure in Kardzhali, IGB is now providing access to a new, diversified source of natural gas for both local businesses and domestic consumers.

In 2023, the ICGB held annual interconnector capacity auctions for the first time, which secured over 80% reserved capacity for the new gas year. Through semi-annual capacity tenders, the company enabled the capacity to be preserved at the interconnection point with the Greek transmission network. This strategic step will allow traders to access volumes from the Alexandroupolis LNG terminal as soon as it becomes operational. Appreciating the growing market interest in this new supply route, the ICGB has initiated an interconnector capacity increase procedure to expand the technical capacity of the IGB to 5 bcm per year. The binding phase of the process is planned for the summer of 2024.

The IGB provided a new route for secure natural gas supplies to Moldova and Ukraine via the Trans-Balkan Gas Pipeline, which contributed to improving Europe's energy connectivity and diversification of sources. With this aim, the ICGB also initiated the idea of expanding the Vertical Gas Corridor to Moldova and Ukraine with the support of transmission system operators in neighboring countries, as the development of energy infrastructure in sync is key to a more sustainable and secure energy sector.