Greece-Bulgaria Interconnector Natural Gas Pipeline Granted Expansion Permit
ICGB has secured a permit to begin the first phase of expanding the Greece-Bulgaria Gas Interconnector to 5 bcm/y. The upgrade at Stara Zagora will boost Southeast Europe’s access to LNG and Azerbaijani gas under the Vertical Gas Corridor initiative.
(P&GJ) — ICGB, the independent operator of the Greece-Bulgaria Gas Interconnector (IGB), has obtained a construction permit for Lot 1 of its capacity expansion project, increasing throughput from 3 to 5 billion cubic meters per year (Bcm/y).
The permit, issued by Bulgaria’s Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works, covers upgrades at the Stara Zagora gas metering station. Planned work includes additional filtration and gas pre-heating equipment, pressure reduction, and new metering lines to handle higher volumes while maintaining safety and operational standards.
ICGB is now moving forward with selecting an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor for the project. Discussions with financial institutions on funding are ongoing, alongside a new two-year market process to gauge demand for increased capacity. Non-binding offers are due by September 2025, with binding commitments expected in summer 2026.
Lot 2 of the expansion, which will upgrade the Komotini gas metering station in Greece, is also advancing in parallel. Both phases are part of the broader Vertical Gas Corridor initiative, which aims to boost access to diversified energy sources, including LNG from Greek terminals and gas from Azerbaijan.
“The permit marks real momentum in our consistent efforts to push forward the expansion project,” said ICGB Executive Officers Teodora Georgieva and George Satlas. “ICGB is committed to this project especially considering the infrastructure’s importance it holds for long-term regional energy security and integration in the SEE region.”
Operational since late 2022, the IGB has become a key natural gas route for Southeast Europe, with connections to the Trans-Balkan and Trans-Adriatic pipelines enabling deliveries across the region, including to Ukraine.