Bulgaria will be able to receive up to three million cubic metres of natural gas from Greece daily.

This becomes possible after the modernisation of the compressor station in the town of Petrich, which was unveiled officially on Monday.

The ceremony was attended by Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, Energy Minister Temenuzhka Petkova, executive director of Bulgartransgaz, Georgi Gegov, as well as representatives of local business.

Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Donchev and US ambassador to Bulgaria, His Excellency Eric Rubin, were also invited to attend the ceremony.

The investment, which has been funded by the EU, amounts to EUR 17 M and is expected to make Bulgaria more independent in terms of its energy supplies.

Through the modernized compressor station Bulgaria will be able to receive a third of its energy supplies from Greece.

Bulgartransgaz, Bulgaria’s natural gas transmission and storage system operator, is to complete an inter-operator agreement with the Greek network operator which will provide opportunity for also virtual trade in gas.

At present Bulgaria’s annual consumption of gas is slightly above 3 billion cubic metres.

Thе reconstructed compressor station provides the first opportunity for diversification of Bulgaria’s gas supplies and there is possibility for connection with the liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Thessaloniki.

Meanwhile, Romanian Energy Minister Victor Grigorescu said on Sunday that the pipeline that will connect Bulgaria and Romania under the Danube river, which is expected to enhance the energy security of both countries, will be ready the end of this year.

Grigorescu also added that for the first time in a long time Romania has made a commitment to build a new 500-kilometre section of the BRUA (Bulgaria-Romania-Hungary-Austria) pipeline with EU funding.