Bulgaria starts the construction of the gas pipeline to Serbia

Bulgaria has started the construction of the gas pipeline that will connect it with Serbia, in an effort to increase the security of supplies in the eastern Balkans, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Bulgaria, a member state of the European Union, has accelerated several projects aimed at removing dependence on Russian gas.

The new gas connection, the construction of which is partially financed with EU money, is expected to be completed in October.

The gas pipeline is expected to have a capacity of 1.8 billion cubic meters of gas per year in each direction.

This pipeline system will transport gas from Azerbaijan to western Europe, but will also give Serbia access to liquefied natural gas through ports in Greece.

"The pipeline offers new opportunities for the region through real diversification and security of supplies," said Bulgaria's president, Rumen Radev, at the construction launch ceremony.

His Serbian counterpart, Aleksandar Vučić, said that the pipeline will help "to provide energy in the future... for the entire region of the Western Balkans and South-Eastern Europe".

Construction of the gas pipeline on the Serbian side started in February 2022, but the war in Ukraine has caused delays in deliveries for the construction of the gas pipeline on the Bulgarian side.

The two countries had signed an agreement in 2012 for the construction of the 170-kilometer gas pipeline.

Bulgaria was almost entirely dependent on Russian gas, transporting about 3 billion cubic meters a year, until Moscow cut off supplies entirely in April 2022 after Sofia refused to pay in Russian rubles for Moscow's gas after the invasion began. of Ukraine.

Since that time, Bulgaria has received gas through sea shipments from Azerbaijan, through the line from Greece.

Serbia, on the other hand, continues to maintain friendly relations with Russia.

Belgrade last year signed a new three-year contract with Russia's Gazprom, prompting criticism from Brussels, at a time when the EU is trying to reduce dependence on Russian energy./ REL