The first LNG deliveries to Bulgaria arrived at the terminal in Alexandroupolis
Minister Malinov welcoming them: After the visionary decision we made years ago to join as shareholders in the facility, today we reach real diversification
The first supply of LNG to Bulgaria has taken place at the newly opened terminal in Alexandroupolis, Greece. TotalEnergies Gas and Power Ltd., which has won the first out of five tenders, launched by Bulgargaz EAD for gas supplies between October 2024 and February 2025, delivered today 1 million MWh for the gas market in Bulgaria. Part of this quantity will be included in the October mix, together with the gas from Azerbaijan and the UGS Chiren, thus providing improved pricing conditions for Bulgarian consumers.
“This is a historic moment not only for Bulgaria but also for the whole region of South-Eastern Europe. After the visionary decision we made years ago to join the facility as shareholders, today we are getting real diversification. We already have another source of supply to ensure energy independence for the country, competitiveness for the economy and sufficient heat at affordable prices for households,“ Energy Minister Vladimir Malinov said during the welcome ceremony at the ship of the FSRU. The ceremony was attended as well by the executive directors of Bulgargaz EAD Vesselin Sinabov and Bulgartransgaz EAD Kiril Ravnachki, and the Chairman of the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission Ivan Ivanov.
Minister Malinov emphasized before the participants in the inauguration that the supply to Bulgaria by TotalEnergies was the first ever in the life of the new terminal. Minister Malinov explained that the gas we receive today originates from Norway.
The LNG terminal in Alexanrupolis provides access to diversified supplies from reliable sources such as the U.S.A., Qatar, Egypt and others. The floating storage regasification unit will contribute to the successful implementation of our energy security and independence priorities.
Commercial operation of the new facility started on 1 October 2024, the beginning of the gas 2024/2025 year. It has a storage capacity of 153,500 cubic metres of liquefied natural gas and a regasification capacity of up to 5.5 billion cubic metres of natural gas per year. Through Bulgartransgaz EAD, the Bulgarian side has a 20% shareholding in Gastrade S.A., the company that owns and operates the LNG terminal. Apart from Bulgaria, it is now possible to supply natural gas through the new facility to Greece, Romania, North Macedonia, Serbia, Moldova and Ukraine. Bulgargaz EAD has a reserved capacity of 1 billion cubic metres of liquefied gas to unload at the new terminal.
The capacity of the facility for the first five years is almost fully exhausted, which is an eloquent evidence of the interest in those supplies, Minister Malinov pointed out.
“This is the first real step made of the overall Vertical Gas Corridor concept supported by our partners in the European Union and the United States”, the Energy Minister underlined and explained that the concept also includes the Revithoussa LNG terminal (Greece), the construction of the entire linear infrastructure for Bulgaria and the region, and the extension of the UGS Chiren.
