The first pipeline of the gas interconnector between Bulgaria and Romania could be ready by early September, said Minister of Energy Victor Grigorescu. In turn, the general manager of Bulgartransgas Georgi Gegov, has advanced the same deadline, BTA reported.
“In early Autumn the drilling for the reserve pipeline route will begin, for which Transgaz has already begun the supplying of the tubular material. I was assured that work will be performed continuously during the summer,” said the Romanian minister on his Facebook page.
In April this year, the transmission system operators of natural gas in Bulgaria (Bulgartransgas EAD) and Romania (Transgaz) signed an agreement with the Austrian company Habau PPS Pipeline Systems LLC, for the construction of the underwater section of the gas interconnector between the two countries.
“The Romania-Bulgaria Interconnector is the first regional infrastructure to be finished in recent years in this part of Europe and it will significantly enhance the security of both countries, and of the entire area also. I think we are a good example for other Member States in terms of our technical capabilities and political will to strengthen the energy security in the region and to have our contribution to putting into practice both the national and EU targets,” said Grigorescu.
In turn, the general manager of Bulgartransgas Georgi Gegov told for BTA: “We talked to our colleagues in Romania, who have expressed their interest for selling in Bulgaria gas extracted in Romania as soon as it will possible in terms of technical aspects.” He added that Bulgaria will have its first alternative source of gas supply after the completion of the Ruse-Giurgiu interconnector.
Georgi Gegov added that, this year, it has been completed the feasibility study and the main parameters have been established for the Bulgarian gas interconnector with Turkey. Georgi Gegov showed that there is a growing interest in increasing virtual gas trade with Greece, adding that an agreement to this effect was signed with Romania last week.
Technical problems in constructing the underwater section
The initial deadline for the completion of the Ruse-Giurgiu pipeline was June 2013, but the completion was delayed as some technical problems were encountered in the construction of the underwater section of the pipeline.
The Giurgiu-Ruse pipeline will have a total length of about 25 kilometers, of which 15.4 km in Bulgaria, 5.2 kilometers in Romania and 4.14 km in underground, crossing the Danube River. Also, two stations will be built for measuring the technical parameters of the natural gas.
The Giurgiu-Ruse pipeline will have a transport capacity of 1.5 billion cubic meters of gas per year from Bulgaria to Romania. From Romania to Bulgaria the capacity will be 500 million cubic meters per year.
The estimated total value of the project is 24 million euros. 8.9 million euros are provided by the European Commission. The Bulgarian company Bulgartransgaz contributes with 14 million euros, while the Romanian company Transgaz participates with 10 million euros.