Bulgaria began construction on Wednesday of a gas pipeline that will connect it to Serbia in a bid to increase security of supplies in southeastern Europe following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Reuters reported.
The construction of this natural gas connection with Serbia was done as an accelerated step by Bulgaria to remove dependence on Russian gas.
The 170-kilometer gas pipeline, which will pass from the Bulgarian city of Novi Iskar to Nis in Serbia, is expected to be operational by the end of the year, the Bulgarian Minister of Energy, Rossen Hristov, has announced.
As reported, Bulgaria, which has been considering the project since 2012, plans to have the 62 km stretch ready on its territory by the end of October. Serbia, which began construction last February, will also have its part ready by fall.
"This project gives new opportunities to the region for real diversification and security of supplies", said Bulgarian President Rumen Radev at the opening ceremony, which was also attended by his Serbian counterpart, Aleksandar Vučić.
"We are getting expanded access to European markets. Serbia is being offered access to new gas sources, coming from the Southern Gas Corridor and the liquefied natural gas terminals in the Aegean Sea," he said.
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The new pipeline, financed in part with the help of the European Union, will give Serbia access to non-Russian supplies from the Southern Gas Corridor and liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals in Greece and Turkey.
The pipeline, which will allow gas to flow in both directions, will diversify the routes connecting Bulgaria to the European gas network.
