Bulgarije en Servië bereiken akkoord over gaspijplijn (en)
Agreement reached to connect Bulgarian and Serbian gas transmission systems by the end of 2015
On 14 December 2012, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria, Boyko Borissov, and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia, Ivica Dačić, signed in the presence of the European Commissioner for Energy, Günther Oettinger i, an agreement to put in place the first gas pipeline between Bulgaria and Serbia.
The Nis-Dimitrovgrad-Sofia pipeline will contribute to the security of gas supply of the countries. This is particularly important given that both of them were severely affected by the 2009 gas supply disruption. This bi-directional pipeline is also critical to the development of the gas market of the entire region. It is part of the Energy Community Gas Ring concept promoted by the European Commission. The investment required for this 180- kilometre long pipeline, with a capacity of ca 1.8 billion cubic meters per annum, is estimated at 100-120 million Euro.
The feasibility studies recently completed with the financial support of the European Union’s Western Balkans Investment Framework and European Regional Development Fund, have confirmed the viability of this project. Further financial assistance of the European Union funds is likely to be sought for the construction of the pipeline.
With this agreement in place, investment decisions on both sides of the border can now be taken to enable the completion of project design and the start of construction by July 2014. The first gas should flow by the end of 2015.
Related documents
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-Summaries of legislation