Bulgaria gets gas grid study funding in latest EU energy infrastructure package
Bulgaria’s state-owned gas grid operator Bulgartransgaz will receive 850 000 euro for a feasibility study as part of the latest EU funding package for trans-European energy infrastructure projects, worth a total 217 million euro, the European Commission said on January 19.
The study by Bulgartransgaz will focus on the identifying the rehabilitation, modernization and expansion needs of the Bulgarian gas transmission system.
The study will “improve the possibilities for the transport of gas in the region, notably for the benefit of Greece, Romania, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Turkey,” the European Commission said in its statement.
In total, the EU package allocated 29 million euro for 13 studies in the gas and electricity sectors, with the bulk of the funding going towards two construction projects – 179.3 million euro to Romania’s gas grid operator Transgaz to build the Romanian stretch of a gas pipeline meant to link Bulgaria and Austria through Romania and Hungary, as well as 8.7 million euro to enable reverse flows on the TENP gas pipeline in Germany.
“Today, we are targeting those regions in Europe that need it the most. With this funding we will help secure supplies and fully integrate Europe’s energy market by connecting networks across Europe,” energy commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete said in the statement.
“We must press ahead with the modernisation of our energy networks to bring any country still isolated into the European energy market. Modern energy networks are also crucial for ensuring efficient use of our energy resources and therefore key to reaching our climate goals,” Cañete said.
(Photo: jarpur/sxc.hu)
