The Minister of Environment and Energy, Stavros Papastavrou visited her Kresna Bulgarianinvited by neighboring country’s Energy Minister, Zeco Stankov.
The two ministers, together with Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zeliaskov and foreign minister of Hungary Peter Sigado inaugurated the construction of large branching of the Bulgarian Transfer Network gasin the context of the vertical gas corridor.
It is recalled that seven countries (Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Moldova, Ukraine) participate in the energy project.
Mr Papastavrou had the opportunity to talk to his Bulgarian counterpart, highlighting the importance of the two countries’ energy interconnection with the rest of Europe and the strengthening of the energy security of SE Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean.
This hub, expected to be completed within the first quarter of 2026, is linked to the expansion of the capacity from Greece to Bulgaria (with the Sidirokastro interconnection point) and from Bulgaria to Romania (with Kresna interconnection) as a basic part of the perpetrators and a key part of the of supply security. Its operation will enable increasing quantities of gas from the south to the north.
The vertical corridor facilitates natural gas flows through Greece’s terminals to the countries of northeast and central Europe. The ultimate goal is to support the complete differentiation of sources of supply of countries in the region and to enhance its energy autonomy.
It is noted that the plan of the vertical corridor is promoted by 9 administrators from the 7 countries involved in the project. These are DESFA and GASTRADE from Greece, Bulgartransgaz and ICGB from Bulgaria, Transgaz from Romania, FGSz from Hungary, Slovakia Eustream, Moldova VMTG and GTSou from Ukraine.
The Minister of Environment and Energy, Mr. Stavros Papastavrou, said: “The Vertical South -North Axis becomes a reality. The gas starting from our country will reach Central and Eastern Europe. This is of great value, as it highlights the lead role of our country in Europe’s energy autonomy and security. But it is also of great importance geostrategic, because new arteries are being created in our country. The government is making a decisive, strategy, to strengthen our country’s position in Europe. ”