November 23 (SeeNews) - ICGB, the operator of the Greece-Bulgaria natural gas pipeline, said on Thursday it plans to conduct the binding phase of market testing in mid-2024 for the planned capacity expansion from the current 3 billion cubic metres (bcm) to 5 bcm per year.
The Greece-Bulgaria interconnector may see its capacity boosted as early as 2025, ICGB said in a press release.
The company said it has completed demand assessment reports, advancing joint technical studies to increase capacity at the pipeline's interconnection points with Greece and Bulgaria's gas systems.
The Greece-Bulgaria gas link, which was commissioned in October 2022 and was crucial in helping Bulgaria wean itself off Russian gas, in September reported significant interest from gas traders during the initial non-binding phase of market testing for capacity expansion.
The 182-kilometre pipeline (113 miles) was constructed by a joint venture of Bulgaria's state energy company BEH, Greece's gas utility DEPA and Italy's Edison. Its current total capacity is already booked at over 82% for the 2023/2024 gas year, ICGB said in September.