July 1 (SeeNews) - Bulgaria will start receiving in full the contracted quantity of natural gas from Azerbaijan as of Friday, even though the gas interconnection with Greece is still not commissioned, public radio BNR reported.
The gas will be delivered to Bulgaria through the temporary connection point with Greece at Nea Messemvria, while awaiting the commissioning of the Greece-Bulgaria interconnector (IGB), BNR quoted the ministry of energy as saying in a statement.
The IGB pipeline will be in operation in time for the forthcoming heating season, with all efforts being made to put it use earlier, according to the ministry.
ICGB, the consortium developing the gas link, said last week that it has been conducting tests with 3.7 million cu m of gas along the 182-kilometre route of the interconnector since mid-June.
The company is still expecting an official approval from the European Commission, which will enable the Greek and Bulgarian energy regulators to issue a final joint decision for certification ahead of the start of commercial operations.
Public supplier Bulgargaz has an existing contract for the supply of one billion cu m of gas per year from Azerbaijan. The IGB is the only pipeline which directly links Bulgaria’s natural gas grid to the Southern Gas Corridor.