European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaks at the official event on the start of the commercial operation of the Gas Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria, in Sofia, Bulgaria, Oct. 1, 2022. The Greece-Bulgaria gas pipeline, the Gas Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria (IGB), started commercial operation on Saturday, according to ICGB AD, owner and operator of the IGB. (ICGB/Handout via Xinhua)
SOFIA, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Greece-Bulgaria gas pipeline, the Gas Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria (IGB), started commercial operation on Saturday, according to ICGB AD, owner and operator of the IGB.
The IGB connects with the Greek national gas transmission system and the Trans-Adriatic gas pipeline (TAP AG) in the area of Komotini of Greece, and with the Bulgarian gas transmission system in the area of Stara Zagora of Bulgaria, according to a press release by the operator.
The total length of the gas pipeline is 182 km, and the designed capacity is up to 3 billion cubic meters per year.
Bulgaria used to rely on Russian imports for more than 80 percent of its gas needs, according to local media reports. ■
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (C) speaks at the official event on the start of the commercial operation of the Gas Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria, in Sofia, Bulgaria, Oct. 1, 2022. The Greece-Bulgaria gas pipeline, the Gas Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria (IGB), started commercial operation on Saturday, according to ICGB AD, owner and operator of the IGB. (Photo by Marian Draganov/Xinhua)