IGB Pipeline

The independent transmission system operator ICGB announces a successful completion of the non-binding phase of the incremental capacity process launched in July to assess the market interest in increasing the IGB pipeline’s total technical capacity. “The market interest for a few consecutive gas years is nearly two times higher than our initial expectations. While for now these indications are non-binding for the shippers, this is a great first step towards a potential expansion of the IGB pipeline’s capacity from 3 bcm/y to 5 bcm/y”, said ICGB Executive Officers George Satlas and Teodora Georgieva. The two discussed updates on the plans for the interconnector’s development with other TSOs in the region during an event dedicated to the Vertical Gas Corridor held in Thessaloniki, Greece.

Over 82% of the total technical capacity of the Greece-Bulgaria interconnector for the next gas year (2023-2024) has already been booked. The successful results were achieved by the independent transmission operator ICGB at the quarterly auctions held earlier, on August 7^th. Currently, for the first quarter of the upcoming gas year, the gas pipeline has booked capacity of 76%. For the remaining 3 quarters, bookings exceed 84% of the facility's total technical capacity. ICGB continues offering the remaining free capacity in both daily and monthly auctions, ensuring transparent and equal access to all interested traders.

For the first half of 2023, over 7.8 million Mwh are transported via the interconnector; 80% of the capacity for the next gas year is successfully booked. A total of 12.7 Mwh are the natural gas volumes transported through the IGB gas pipeline since the interconnector’s commercial launch on Oct 1st, 2022 up to the end of June 2023. IGB connects to the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), making Bulgaria part of the Southern Gas Corridor and enabling access to secure natural gas deliveries from diversified sources both for the country and the wider region.