The Greece–Bulgaria Interconnector (IGB) is expanding the capabilities of the Southern Gas Corridor, transforming the project into a strategic energy pillar for Central and Eastern Europe, Maya Hristova, Executive Director of ICGB AD, said during her speech at the 12th meeting of the Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council held in Baku, APA-Economics reports.
According to her, in recent years, energy infrastructure has gained not only economic but also strategic importance in terms of security and geopolitics. In this context, the Southern Gas Corridor has made a significant contribution to the region’s energy security by ensuring diversification of sources and routes.
Maya Hristova noted that IGB currently serves as a reliable gas transmission route not only for Bulgaria and Greece, but also for countries in Southeastern and Central Europe. Since the start of commercial operations, significant volumes of gas have been transported through the interconnector, strengthening competition in the market.
She emphasized that the focus should now shift from successful implementation to the expansion phase. IGB has ensured its technical readiness for expansion, and the realization of additional transmission capacity can be carried out in line with market demand.
The company head stated that the European Commission’s policy of gradually phasing out Russian gas makes more efficient use of existing infrastructure in the region and enhanced coordination among operators essential.
Hristova added that the energy transition is not only about speed but also about stability. Natural gas, as a transition fuel supporting the integration of renewable energy sources, ensures system flexibility and provides an alternative to higher-carbon fuels.
According to her, the IGB infrastructure can also be adapted in the future for the transportation of low-carbon gases, including hydrogen blends, and technical assessments are currently underway in this direction.
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