BULGARIA-ROMANIA GAS INTERCONNECTOR WAS LAUNCHED

The gas interconnection between Bulgaria and Romania was officially opened on 11^th of November. The opening ceremony took place in Marten village, Rousse region, border with Romania and was attended by Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, Minister of Energy Temenuzhka Petkova and her Romanian counterpart Victor Grigorescu, Bulgaria’s Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Donchev and representatives from the European Commission.

PM Borissov thanked everyone for the construction of this complex interconnector. Temenuzhka Petkova said it was an important day for the Bulgarian energy sector because this was the launch of the first gas interconnection of Bulgaria with a neighbouring country. Bulgaria is going into the right direction, she added.

The chairperson of Bulgaria’s Energy and Water Regulatory Commission, Ivan Ivanov said that this was an important stage of the reform in the bulgari9na energy sector, which started 2 years earlier. The interconnector was a clear sign for the unwavering political will to implement the energy independence of the country and enhance energy security, he noted.

The gas link between the Bulgarian city of Ruse and Giurgiu in Romania has a total length of 25 km, larger part of which is in Bulgaria. The rest is in Romania, including the 2 km underwater pipeline the Danube river. The launch of the gas link fulfills one of the requirements of the European Energy Union for building of intersystem connectivity in the region of Southeast Europe. The compressor station in Romania is yet to be built. After completion, it will ensure the normal gas deliveries to Bulgaria.Currently, the gas flows from Bulgaria to Romania.