Four more firms interested in IGB market test, Petkova says

Four additional companies have expressed an interest to take part in the prospective IGB (Greek-Bulgarian Interconnector) project’s second-round market test, entailing the submission of binding bids for allocation of pipeline capacity to traders, Bulgarian energy minister Temenuzhka Petkova announced today during a speech at an event organized in Sofia by ICGB, the consortium behind the pipeline project.

Petkova, during her speech, also noted that Bulgaria may seek to acquire a 25 percent stake in a prospective floating LNG station in Alexandroupoli, northeastern Greece.

Greek energy minister Panos Skourletis, who attended the Sofia event, stressed the IGB’s geopolitical and regional significance.

The two officials also held a meeting on the occasion of the Greek minister’s visit to the Bulgarian capital for talks on the IGB project, the Alexandroupoli LNG station, completion of work for installment of reverse flow systems on an existing natural gas pipeline linking Greece and Bulgaria, as well as other energy matters of mutual interest.

Though scheduled for October, the IGB market test’s second round has been delayed and will now most likely take place in November or December.

Both sides appear confident that the second round will produce positive results and give the green light for the pipeline infrastructure project’s development.