BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 9. Bulgartransgaz has
announced a phased increase in natural gas transmission capacities
for the upcoming gas years.


ulgaria’s gas transmission operator said in a message on its
website that in line with the construction and upcoming
commissioning of key pipeline projects, it is gradually raising
technical capacity at several interconnection points linking
Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, and North Macedonia.


“At the Kulata/Sidirokastro interconnection point, capacity will
increase in two stages — for 2026/2027 and from 2027/2028. At the
Negru Voda 1/Kardam and Kyustendil/Zhidilovo points, the increase
will take effect from the gas year 2027/2028,” the operator
said.


Bulgartransgaz CEO Vladimir Malinov said the progress of
infrastructure development is enabling the company to expand
available capacity while also improving market conditions in the
region.


“The significant progress in the construction of the Vertical
Corridor infrastructure enables the Bulgarian gas transmission
operator to offer increased natural gas transmission capacities at
interconnection points at reduced prices,” Malinov said.


He added that the expansion supports broader energy
diversification goals.


“In this way, we provide the necessary conditions for the
transmission of additional quantities of liquefied natural gas from
reliable sources such as the United States and others to Bulgaria,
the region and Europe,” he said.


Malinov noted that the initiative is also designed to enhance
regional market dynamics.


“We contribute to increasing market liquidity in the region,
increasing security of supply and ensuring competitive prices,” he
said.







The capacity expansion is being implemented under the roadmap
for improving the attractiveness of the Trans-Balkan gas route and
is expected to enable higher flows along Route 1 of the Vertical
Gas Corridor. As a result, Bulgartransgaz has reduced capacity
prices by more than 11% at interconnection points between
Greece–Bulgaria and Bulgaria–Romania.


At the Kulata/Sidirokastro point, capacity will rise to
93,009,443 kWh/day for the 2026/2027 gas year following the
commissioning of the Kulata–Kresna loop. From 2027/2028 onward,
capacity is expected to increase further to 102,825,300 kWh/day,
after completion of the Piperevo–Pernik pipeline.


At Negru Voda 1/Kardam, capacity will reach 296,796,409 kWh/day
from 2027/2028, supported by the Rupcha–Vetrino loop and reversal
of the Kardam compressor station.


At Kyustendil/Zhidilovo, flows from Bulgaria to North Macedonia
are expected to increase to 38,732,348 kWh/day from 2027/2028,
following completion of the Piperevo–Pernik gas pipeline.


According to the auction calendar of the European Network of
Transmission System Operators for Gas (ENTSOG), the annual capacity
auction for yearly products will take place on July 6, 2026.


Earlier, Malinov said during his participation in the Energy
Transition Summit for the Eastern Mediterranean and Southeastern
Europe is Greece that from July 1, the infrastructure of the
Vertical Corridor will be put into operation, which will increase
the capacity for natural gas transmission from Greece to
Bulgaria.


"And by the end of the year, the one that increases the
transmission from Bulgaria to Romania," he added.