Sofia, August 9, 2025 – The Europe Today: The independent transmission system operator ICGB has obtained the necessary construction permit for Lot 1 of its project to expand the capacity of the Greece-Bulgaria gas interconnector (IGB) from 3 to 5 billion cubic meters annually. The permit, issued by Bulgaria’s Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works, authorizes the upgrade of the gas metering station near Stara Zagora.
This milestone enables ICGB to proceed with the tender process for selecting an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractor to execute the modernization works. The EPC contractor will install additional infrastructure, including natural gas filtering and preheating systems, and construct new pressure reduction and metering lines. These enhancements will allow the Stara Zagora station to handle higher gas volumes while ensuring operational reliability and compatibility with neighboring systems.
The capacity increase is considered essential for bolstering energy security and enhancing integration across South East Europe. ICGB is also in discussions with financial institutions to finalize the expansion’s financing model. The company has initiated a new two-year market interest assessment cycle, with non-binding capacity booking offers expected by early September 2025 and a binding phase scheduled for summer 2026. Construction of Lot 1 will commence after a final investment decision by shareholders and the completion of financing arrangements.
Progress on Lot 2, covering the gas metering station near Komotini, Greece, is advancing in parallel, ensuring both sites remain aligned with the overall project strategy.
ICGB Executive Directors Teodora Georgieva and George Satlas hailed the construction permit as a crucial step towards the interconnector’s capacity expansion, highlighting its strategic value for regional energy stability and integration.
The IGB expansion forms a key component of the Vertical Gas Corridor initiative, aimed at improving access to diversified energy sources, including LNG from Greek terminals and Azerbaijani pipeline gas. Operational since October 2022, the IGB has played a vital role in supplying natural gas to South East Europe, and the expansion could boost deliveries to Bulgaria, neighboring markets, and Ukraine.
The 182-kilometer IGB pipeline, jointly owned by Bulgarian Energy Holding (BEH EAD) and IGI Poseidon, connects Greece’s gas transmission network and the Trans Adriatic Pipeline to Bulgaria’s Bulgartransgaz network. While currently operating at 3 bcm/year, its design supports expansion to 5 bcm/year, contingent on market demand and system coordination.
