October 5 (SeeNews) - Four companies, which did not participate in the non-binding expression of interest (EOI), have submitted binding offers to book capacity in the gas interconnector Greece-Bulgaria (IGB), the energy ministry in Sofia said on Wednesday.
Bulgarian energy minister Temenuzhka Petkova expressed confidence that the volumes of natural gas booked in the second stage of the market test will replicate those filed in the non-binding expression of interest, the ministry said in a statement.
The ministry did not disclose the names of the four new companies.
During the first bidding round, which closed on April 8, ICGB received non-binding offers from nine companies, including Bulgargaz, Edison, Greece's DEPA and Gastrade, Azerbajan's Socar and US-based Noble.
The nine interested companies requested a total aggregate capacity of 4.3 bcm per year for gas transportation services in firm forward mode from Greece to Bulgaria and approximately 1 bcm per year for gas transportation services in firm reverse mode from Bulgaria to Greece.
The deadline for cubmitting binding offers in the second phase of the market test is October 31.
The 182 km long IGB pipeline will link the northeastern Greek city of Komotini with Stara Zagora in central Bulgaria. It is estimated to cost 220 million euro ($245.5 million). The pipeline will carry 3 billion cu m of natural gas annually in its initial stage and will have a maximum capacity of 5 billion cu m per year. It will eventually be connected to the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), which will carry Azeri gas to Europe through Greece.
Bulgaria and Greece signed a final investment decision on the construction of the gas link in December last year.
($=0.8933 euro)