Greece approves gas connection with Bulgaria
The Greek Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate endorsed the idea of building Greek-Bulgarian pipeline from Komotini to Stara Zagora. The authorities in Athens approved the start of preliminary studies on the impact on the environment which the implementation of the route would have.
According to preliminary estimates, the pipeline will have minimal negative effects on the environment which could be classified as "short and preventable" wrote the Greek newspaper "Proto theme." The gas connection will not pass through protected areas from "Natura 2000", while the effect on the Greek economy is expected to be extremely propitious.
Preliminary data shows that the layout Komotini-Stara Zagora will be 180 kilometres long and only 30 of them will pass through Greek territory. The capacity of the pipe will be 3 billion cubic meters annually, while in the near future this amount may be increased up to 5 billion cubic meters.
The facility is being built by the company “Interconnector Greece Bulgaria”, involving "Bulgarian Energy Holding" and “IGI Poseidon”. The “IGI Poseidon” is a consortium between the Greek state natural gas company, “DEPA” and the Italian "Edison".
The construction of the gas connection between Komotini and Stara Zagora began to be discussed in early July after the visit of the Bulgarian president Rosen Plevneliev to Greece.Less than a month ago, the Bulgarian government declared the project to be national priority, crucial to the country's energy independence. Apparently, it will be implemented in parallel with the "South Stream" which the country has agreed to build in cooperation with the Russian state gas giant "Gazprom". This raises the question what are Sofia’s real intentions - to reduce its energy dependence on Moscow or to ensure maximum sources of gas supplies as soon as possible?
The final decision of Athens for the construction of the gas connection will be made when the results from the assessment of environmental risk come out. According to Greek media, the construction of the pipeline was a serious opportunity for the country to become an energy hub in the Balkans and Western Europe. Its implementation will have strategic importance for the whole Balkan region, as this will help for real diversification of gas supplies, limiting the influence of the Russian "Gazprom". Is entirely feasible that after the pipeline is ready, to be extended to Romania and, therefore, to other countries in Eastern and Central Europe.
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