site.btaEnergy Minister Outlines Progress of Vertical Gas Corridor Construction

The second ship with pipes for the construction of the Vertical Gas Corridor docked in Burgas. This is another important step in the implementation of the strategic energy project, which aims to strengthen the energy security of the region and turn Bulgaria into a key gas distribution hub for Southeast Europe, Energy Minister Zhecho Stankov said during his visit to the port on Tuesday.

“Today 2,526 pipes arrived from India, which will be used in the next stage of the construction of the Bulgarian part of the gas link,” he said. Stankov reminded that the first delivery of pipes was made at the end of March and has already been used for the construction of the 48-kilometre section Kulata – Kresna, which has been cleared, some of the pipes have been laid, and several welding works have been carried out.

The remaining 6 km of the route are currently being surveyed by archaeologists. The construction of this segment is expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2026, Stankov said. 

The next stage of the project covers the section from Rupcha to Vetrino - about 61 km long. The construction permit for it is expected by the end of July or early August. Some engineering challenges lie ahead, the energy minister revealed. The route will pass through part of the Balkan, cross three rivers and the Hemus motorway.

“Our goal is to have the pipeline operational by the end of next year,” Zhecho Stankov added. According to him, this will significantly increase the capacity of the Bulgaria-Romania exit point, thus Bulgaria will generate additional revenues from gas transmission. A third shipment of pipes for the project is expected by early August. Stankov pointed out that the network operator Bulgartransgaz EAD is actively working with its international partners to create a single tariff for gas transmission along the new corridor.

The Vertical Gas Corridor is a joint initiative of Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Ukraine, Moldova and Slovakia. Its aim is to improve security and ensure diversification of gas transmission sources and routes. The project is strategic not only for Bulgaria, but also for the whole of Europe, and its implementation requires an increase in the transmission capacity at the Bulgarian-Greek and Bulgarian-Romanian borders. The Bulgarian part of the corridor includes three main sections: Kulata - Kresna, Piperevo – Pernik, and Rupcha - Vetrino.

On June 6, 2024, at the Council of Ministers, in the presence of the caretaker Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev and the caretaker Minister of Energy Vladimir Malinov, two contracts were signed between the gas transmission operator Bulgartransgaz and the appointed contractors - consortia between Bulgarian and American companies, which marked the beginning of the implementation of the Vertical Gas Corridor concept. The contracts, worth nearly BGN 485 million, are for spatial planning, investment design, supply of the necessary materials and equipment, construction and commissioning of new facilities for the expansion of the gas transmission infrastructure.