BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb.6. The Interconnector
Greece-Bulgaria (IGB) has immensely modified South-East Europe’s
vitality map, Govt Officer of ICGB, the pipeline operator,
Teodora Georgieva stated in an unique interview with Trend.
“This goes into two elements – affect on a nationwide stage for the
two host international locations Greece and Bulgaria, and worldwide
regarding our neighbors and the broader SEE area. On a nationwide
scale, each Bulgaria and Greece have been capable of strengthen their roles
on the vitality map after IGB’s profitable launch in October final
yr. For Bulgaria, the advantages of IGB have been felt maybe even
stronger internally, because the nation now has a diversified and secure
new route for pure fuel provides – for the primary time we’re not
depending on one sole supply. It is a main feat and the ICGB
crew has labored extraordinarily arduous to make it attainable underneath fairly
difficult situations. The brand new route for fuel deliveries has had a
constructive affect in the marketplace, optimizing costs for finish customers,
and making it attainable to proceed with the gasification of whole
native areas,” she stated.
Georgieva famous that on a global stage, it’s now
attainable to supply capability for pure fuel transportation to
a number of international locations within the SEE area, together with the neighbors within the
Western Balkans.
“That is definitely a breath of contemporary air for the market at a
time when vitality independence and safety of provide have develop into so
essential. The timing of IGB’s launch couldn’t have been higher in
that side and I’m sure that the consequences of this venture and
its strategic location so near TAP, TANAP, the Trans-Balkan
Pipeline, and some LNG terminals might be felt even stronger within the
future,” she added.
Booked capability
She famous that the present capability of the Interconnector
Greece-Bulgaria is 3 bcm/y and as of proper now it’s booked at
nearly 94 p.c.
Georgieva believes that for a pipeline that’s launched in simply
underneath 6 months, it is a super success.
“The IGB venture was initially believed to be a extremely related
infrastructure each for the 2 host international locations and the broader area
all the best way again in 2009 when the thought for it was established.
Personally, I’ve all the time believed in it as a pricey reason behind mine
with an excellent worldwide affect. Now, given the brand new realities in
Europe, we will all really feel with certainty that this pipeline is really
a game-changer – it has helped Bulgaria diversify its inside
consumption of pure fuel, breaking the cycle of dependence on one
important provider, and it has strengthened Greece’s place on the
vitality map as properly. That being stated, via IGB we’re already
seeing different international locations benefiting as properly, and we’re engaged on
partnerships with native corporations to offer gasification to
nationwide areas that used to not have this selection. I need to say that
after years of arduous work and extraordinary challenges, IGB’s launch
with 3 bcm/y was an absolute success,” added Georgieva.
Sources of fuel
The chief director stated that presently, the primary supply of
provides for the Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria is fuel flowing
via the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP).
“Our venture can be in synergy with deliberate and current LNG
terminals within the area,” she defined.
Georgieva famous that as of October 1st, 2022, IGB is
transporting the total volumes of Azerbaijani fuel contracted between
Bulgaria and Azerbaijan from the Shah Deniz II fuel area.
“About half of the three bcm/y capability of the pipeline – 1.57 bcm/y
is booked underneath long-term contracts for as much as 25 years. The remainder in
phrases of free capability is obtainable on the PRISMA and RBP platforms,”
she defined.
Forecasts for capability utilization
Georgieva famous that the capability utilization of the
Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria is predicted to stay above 90
p.c in 2023 and 2024.
“In 2023, ICGB, as a dependable transmission operator, will
fulfill the already undertaken commitments to switch fuel
portions underneath the already signed long-term contracts,” she
stated.
Georgieva famous that the market of pure fuel within the area and
Europe as a complete may be very dynamic proper now, given the continuing struggle
in Ukraine in addition to the measures that European international locations are
taking to beat its penalties.
“Because of these circumstances, within the third month since
the beginning of business operation of IGB, the capability of the fuel
pipeline was utilized above 90 p.c. We anticipate that this pattern
will persist and proceed in 2023 and probably in 2024, however
in the end this might be decided by the wants and demand for
pure fuel of the international locations within the area,” stated the manager
officer.
Progress in ending work
The EPC contractor continues to be implementing a few of the remaining
actions that don’t have direct affect on the exploitation of the
Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria, Teodora Georgieva stated.
“These so-called secondary actions don’t intervene with the
easy functioning and security of the fuel pipeline,” she famous
Georgieva went on so as to add that they’re nonetheless, nevertheless, part of
the contract and we as a contracting entity require them to be
fulfilled inside the scope of the technical venture.
“We’re supervising carefully the actions and mark important
progress on a few of them, whereas work on others stays fairly
hesitant in tempo,” she defined.
Increasing the geography of provides
She identified that the interconnector Greece-Bulgaria can
present a secure route for fuel provides to totally different international locations.
“IGB’s free capability is obtainable on two European platforms and
is open to all shippers that adjust to the related
laws. By means of current infrastructure together with the
Trans-Balkan Pipeline, IGB can present a secure route for diversified
fuel provides for international locations within the area reminiscent of Moldova and
Ukraine as properly,’ she stated.
Georgieva famous that whether or not this might be used as a viable
choice for fuel provide is lower than ICGB as a transmission system
operator.
Hydrogen transmission potential
ICGB is already researching the potential for hydrogen
transmission and the matters associated, Teodora Georgieva stated.
“We imagine the apparent technical constraints might be resolved
within the foreseeable future, not less than to a sure stage adequate
sufficient for transportation of blended gases,” the manager officer
defined.
Aside, Georgieva famous that the true prospects for hydrogen
pumping rely in the marketplace of this commodity.
“Our transmission service is only a small piece of a really bigger
puzzle referred to as hydrogen financial system. It should even be famous that for IGB
to begin pumping hydrogen, there must be synergy with not less than
a number of consecutive infrastructure operators in that side.
Adjoining operators also needs to be prepared for hydrogen transportation
to/from a sure vacation spot to allow the precise course of. We now have
acknowledged this as a future alternative, and I’m sure we are going to
be prepared to slot in as soon as the hydrogen market begins to develop extra
noticeably,” she stated.
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