The goal is for the gas interconnector with Greece to be commissioned by July 1st this year, to be ready before the next heating season. This was stated by the Minister of Energy Alexander Nikolov during a hearing in the parliament. The topic was the delay in the construction of the interconnector and the accrual of penalties under the contract for implementation.
Nikolov explained that due to the delay in the project, Bulgaria will insist on compensation from the builder. He said the government had demanded payment but did not specify a specific amount.
The Minister also said that a meeting between him, the Minister of Finance Asen Vassilev and the directors on the board of the joint project company ICGB AD is forthcoming.
Nikolov revealed that there was a request to postpone the project by the contractor. However, our country has not respected it.
The Greece-Bulgaria gas interconnection is designed for the transmission of natural gas between the two countries by connecting to the national gas transmission network of Bulgartransgaz EAD, near Stara Zagora, and to the gas transmission network of DESFA SA - Greece in the region of Komotini.