The construction of an interconnection pipeline linking the gas transmission systems of Bulgaria and Turkey would start in the next two weeks, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov said on Thursday, according to public radio broadcaster BNR.

Diversification of sources and routes of gas supply had been discussed for years in Bulgaria but practical steps were being made only now with the construction of new compressor stations that would ensure gas flow between Bulgaria and its neighbours in both directions, Borisov said at the 14th Gas Infrastructure Europe Annual Conference taking place in Sofia.

The interconnector with Turkey is of priority importance for Bulgaria as it would provides access to all current and future entry points and sources of natural gas in Turkey, Bulgarian Energy Minister Temenuzhka Petkova said at the conference organised by transmission system operator Bulgartransgaz.

Bulgaria has invested more than BGN 220 M in the modernisation of its gas transmission infrastructure to ensure the operation of the interconnections and continues to work intensively in this direction, Petkova said. Four compressor stations in the gas transmission network - Strandzha, Lozenets, Ihtiman and Petrich - have been renovated, she added.