Greece, Bulgaria Discuss Gas Interconnection

Greek President Karolos Papoulias has told Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev that a gas interconnection between the two countries is of the utmost importance to Greece.

Speaking to the Bulgarian President on his official visit to Greece, President Papoulias said that energy cooperation between Bulgaria and Greece would be advantageous to both countries.

"Our two countries have embarked on a mutually beneficial cooperation in the energy sector," he said. "Greece considers it particularly important to promote our cooperation in major energy projects, such as gas transmission and interconnection of energy networks.  The implementation of gas pipeline Interconnector Greece Bulgaria (IGB) and the construction of gas pipeline South Stream can bring multiple benefits to both countries."

President Plevneliev agreed that the cooperation between the two countries would be of mutually benefit, highlighting particularly Bulgaria's reliance on Ukraine for its gas imports.

"The gas interconnection between Bulgaria and Greece is of major importance for Bulgaria's energy diversification since at present we are dependent on the supplies of natural gas via Ukraine," Noinvite reports the Bulgarian President as saying.

As such, Bulgaria and Greece will seek to increase cooperation on the Interconnector Greece Bulgaria, a statement on President's Plevneliev's official government website said.

"Bulgaria and Greece will accelerate work on the gas connection between the two countries, which is important for energy security of the region," the statement says. "Funding is already secured."