The Greece-Bulgaria interconnector (IGB) transported 39,854,049 MWh (about 3,7 billion cubic metres) of gas from Greece to Bulgaria and 1,919,228 MWh (180.2 million cubic metres) in virtual reverse flow to Greece from the start of its operations on 1 October 2022 up to the end of October 2025.
The interconnector is a central component of the Vertical Gas Corridor, and continues its active engagement to enable the launch of Routes 2 and 3 capacity products from Greece to Ukraine.
Following the activation of Route 1 earlier this year, the operators of Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova and Ukraine, together with ICGB, jointly signed to launch Route 2 (Alexandroupolis LNG to Ukraine) and Route 3 (Azeri gas to Ukraine through IGB). Building on the regulators’ extension of Route 1 to April 2026, the operators have filed a joint request for Routes 2 and 3 to be available through April 2026 under a coordinated single platform auction design. To encourage market uptake, the TSOs have agreed on significant, coordinated tariff discounts across interconnection points, with ICGB providing a 46 per cent discount.
“The results we have seen in the past few months reflect the strength of the partnerships behind the IGB pipeline,” said ICGB Executive Officer Teodora Georgieva. “Our long-established cooperation with Azerbaijan and the stability provided by the long-term contract for Azeri gas continue to be fundamental for Bulgaria and the wider region. At the same time, the Vertical Gas Corridor and the IGB route are opening new opportunities for diversified supplies, including American LNG, which further enhances the resilience of regional markets.”
Meanwhile, works are ongoing to expand the interconnector’s capacity from 3 to 5 billion cubic metres/year. The construction permit for the Bulgarian section is secured, the contracting strategy is finalised, and ICGB is ready for procurement once corporate approvals are in place.
“ICGB’s expansion plans are central to the Vertical Gas Corridor initiative, as the IGB pipeline’s proximity to key terminals allows supplies from global markets to reach South-East and even Central Europe,” Ms Georgieva added.