The Greece-Bulgaria gas pipeline, the Gas Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria (IGB), started commercial operation on Saturday, according to ICGB AD, owner and operator of the IGB.
The IGB connects with the Greek national gas transmission system and the Trans-Adriatic gas pipeline (TAP AG) in the area of Komotini of Greece, and with the Bulgarian gas transmission system in the area of Stara Zagora of Bulgaria, according to a press release by the operator.
The total length of the gas pipeline is 182 km, and the designed capacity is up to 3 billion cubic meters per year.
Bulgaria used to rely on Russian imports for more than 80 percent of its gas needs, according to local media reports.
