Bulgaria Lays First 11 km of Balkan Stream

State gas transmission system operator Bulgartransgaz has completed the first stage of the Balkan Stream route, it said October 21. This is part of the expansion of the gas transmission network from the Bulgaria-Turkey border to the Strandzha metering station, it said October 21. Eventually the line will finish at the Bulgaria-Serbia border.

After a public procurement procedure, DZZD GBS Transgaz won the contract for the planning, construction and operation of the Strandzha metering station. The contract is worth lev 27.7mn ($15.8mn). The planning, delivery and construction of the gas pipeline from the border to Strandzha amounts to lev 47.9mn and the contractor is DZZD Strandzha 2018.

“We have proved that we can implement projects, through which we uphold the role of Bulgaria on the European gas map,” said Bulgartransgaz CEO Vladimir Malinov. He highlighted the fact that the lev 75mn investment is fully covered by the gas company itself. He said the project is fundamental to the Balkan Gas Hub, which is a top priority for the Bulgarian government. It will improve security of supply of gas from different sources, enhance competition and make the gas market more transparent. This will improve conditions for gas consumers.