Representatives of gas transmission and system operators (TSOs) signatories of the Vertical Corridor Memorandum have once again expressed their consensus for the construction of the Vertical Corridor and investment decisions will be made by all countries participating in this unitary project present at the fourth Metropolitan Summit in Thessaloniki “Today (September 5 – ed.) we met in Thessaloniki, as agreed since summer. We have analysed the reasons that led to the lack of capacity booking in auctions, I am referring to the one on incremental capacity on July 1, and the next steps to make this Vertical Corridor operational at the proposed capacity of 10 billion cubic meters of gas in the first phase The discussions resulted in the joint actions that we will take including on the occasion of CESEC in Budapest on September 18-20; I refer to the presentation of a common concept to all energy ministers of the countries of the TSOs signatories of the Vertical Corridor We want to do this in order to receive European funds to complete the gas transmission infrastructure in each country the European Union will give funds to each country according to the concept we present as a unitary whole Each will justify to the European Commission the need for funding on the respective projects they have funds will be given to increase IGB capacity from 3.5 billion cubic meters to 5 billion cubic meters Bulgaria wants funds to rebuild 63 kilometres of pipeline to increase the capacity of the Kardam compressor station in order to increase the volumes at the border with Romania – I am referring to Kardam – Negru Voda Other funds will go towards increasing the reverse flow interconnection capacity between Bulgaria and Greece Greek projects between Alexandroupolis and Sidirokastro to Kulata plus for a compressor station in the Coroi area After we present the project to energy ministers at CESEC in Budapest we will ask for a meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the new Energy Commissioner projects must be submitted to the Modernization Fund by each country the group of countries in the Modernization Fund (10 countries) will meet plus the three neutral countries – Germany we will know what funding we have and will start the investment decisions we hope that the Vertical Corridor project will be ready by the end of 2026 – early 2027,” said Transgaz’s CEO The Thessaloniki summit also discussed gas quality in Central and Eastern Europe and the Balkans Transgaz’s CEO mentioned on this issue: “We have established the quality of gas it has been discussed for two or three years at DG Energy A consensus has now been reached and the methane content of the gas will be presented at CESEC It will be introduced in a European Regulation through addenda to the interconnection agreements between all the TSOs in the area considered as a possible solution for Romania is part of the South-North Corridor of the Three Seas Initiative (3SI) and aims to diversify natural gas sources and increase the security of gas supply for countries in Central and Eastern Europe and the Balkans This initiative was launched and supported as early as 2016 by Ion Sterian The project involves the collaboration of countries in the Central and South-East European Union together with the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine to develop a new alternative gas supply in the region The Vertical Gas Corridor represents an extensive pipeline system consisting of current and future infrastructure liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals and storage facilities You can read this article in 3 minutesAgnieszka Kulikowska - Wielgus Romanian traffic information - IGPR's Infotraffic Centre - has reported that road works on the Giurgiu-Ruse border bridge between Romania and Bulgaria These will be carried out every day for 10-12 hours a day in sections of 400 metres,” announces the INFOTRAFFIC Centre of the General Inspectorate of the Romanian Police Traffic will not be completely stopped but will move alternately traffic restrictions will be introduced in the direction of entering Bulgaria then in the opposite direction of exiting to Romania Drivers are advised to pay extra attention and strictly observe the temporary signs set up at the site of the roadworks The possibility of longer waiting times at border crossings must also be taken into account The Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises motorists to use the following border crossings with the Republic of Bulgaria: The Vama Veche crossing is also very crowded in summer while other border points – such as Negru Vodă – are less busy The ferry crossing options have a limited capacity of heavy vehicles that can cross who have carried out two emergency interventions on the bridge this year have said that the safety of drivers is more important and therefore the repairs cannot be postponed any longer the Romanian government approved the decision to establish a new international border crossing point between Romania and Bulgaria called Giurgiu – Ruse II (in operation until 2005) based on the Romanian-Bulgarian agreement of 2022 This point will only become operational once the infrastructure has been built and the necessary personnel and utilities are in place so that border control can take place under the norms and standards in force Photo credits @ TheFlyingDutchman, CC BY 3.0 Pölös Zsófia Journalist Trans.info | 5.05.2025 Agnieszka Kulikowska - Wielgus Journalist Trans.info | 5.05.2025 Sabina Koll Journalist Trans.info | 5.05.2025 GXO to manage Northern Italy transport operations for PRG retail groupPölös Zsófia Journalist Trans.info | 5.05.2025 Looking to access paid articles across multiple policy topics Interested in policy insights for EU professional organisations Bulgaria has decided to invest more than €295 million in the so-called ‘Vertical Corridor,’ a key initiative between seven Balkan countries’ gas transmission operators to reduce reliance on Russian gas either observed and verified directly by the reporter or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources This project aims to increase the natural gas transmission capacity at the interconnection points Kulata/Sidirokastro in the direction from Greece to Bulgaria and Negru Voda/Kardam from Bulgaria to Romania The US also touted the importance of this project repair works will begin on the Bulgarian side of the Giurgiu – Ruse Bridge road traffic will be carried out on a single lane The Romanian Border Police recommends the following crossing points open in international regime on the border with the Republic of Bulgaria:  In the context of offering bundled capacity to the Network Users SNTGN TRANSGAZ SA and BULGARTRANSGAZ EAD intend to amend some provisions of the Interconnection Agreement for IP Negru Voda 1/Kardam The business rules related to the natural gas transmission through the IP in both directions of the Interconnection Agreement will be amended in order to: – introduce the single-sided (re-)nominations for the booked bundled capacities use; – apply the same method for the calculation of the forecasted GCV – amend the default matching rule in case when the Network User does not submit a (re-)nomination before the (re-)nomination deadline Until the entry into force of the new business rules Network Users will still use the double-sided nomination in case of using bundled capacity The new business rules will enter into force on 01.02.2019 The public consultation has the aim to collect the opinions from all potential network users regarding the transmission of natural gas through the IP Negru Voda 1/Kardam in both directions SNTGN TRANSGAZ SA and BULGARTRANSGAZ EAD also intend to amend some provisions of the Interconnection Agreement for IP Ruse – Giurgiu 2 of Regulation (EU) 2015/703 establishing a network code on interoperability and data exchange rules SNTGN TRANSGAZ SA and BULGARTRANSGAZ EAD invite all potential network users to submit their comments on the above-mentioned procedures until 15 December 2018 Source: Transgaz Public consultation on amending the Business Rules to the Interconnection Agreements for Negru Voda 1-Kardam and Giurgiu-Ruse "Bulgartransgaz" has announced a public procurement for "Organizational planning supply of necessary materials and equipment construction and commissioning of new facilities for the expansion of the gas transmission infrastructure with the aim of increasing the capacities at the interconnection points Kulata - Sidirokastro and Negru Voda - Kardam" The estimated value of the public procurement is EUR 295,665,000 excluding VAT The expansion will enable Bulgartransgaz to achieve the Vertical Corridor's goals of diversification and improving security of supply by transferring additional quantities of natural gas from south to north The initiative of the gas transmission operators of Bulgaria Ukraine and Moldova was approved by the parliament on March 14 The Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) has again reduced the key interest rate in the country This is the eighth consecutive month of a decrease in. An analysis by the Ministry of Economy and Industry shows that in 2024 Bulgaria's trade with the United States accounted for 1.7% of the country’s total trade volume making up 2.6% of total exports and imports from the U.S.. Around 4 billion euros in debt have been raised from international markets through two bond issues The amount was raised through issues of 9-year and 13-year bonds – marking the country’s first entry into the. english@bnr.bg Romgaz and Transgaz have signed the contracts for taking over the Black Sea gas into the National Transmission System which were initialled by Transgaz CEO Ion Sterian OMV Petrom CEO Christina Verchere and Romgaz CEO Razvan Popescu are valid for the period September 2026 – September 2042 The cumulative value of the commitments of the successful applicants is RON 2.82 billion The contracts were signed after the successful completion of the incremental capacity booking process for the Tuzla entry/exit point into/from NTS “Transgaz is ready to build this gas pipeline under the same conditions of safety efficiency and performance that it meets every time the site to the winner of the tender for the construction of the gas pipeline to carry out our mission of ensuring Romania’s energy independence and we will fulfil our obligations to the Romanian state authorities and our international obligations with professionalism and dedication,” Transgaz CEO Ion Sterian stated on this occasion Currently estimated to cost around EUR 478 million including VAT the gas pipeline project consists of the construction of a 308.3 km long Tuzla – Podisor gas transmission pipeline which will link the natural gas resources available on the Black Sea coast to the BRUA corridor Transgaz has applied for grants from the Modernisation Fund together with other five gas transmission infrastructure projects the interconnection with the Trans-Balkan corridor a corridor for which reverse flow on the Romanian territory is ensured and also the connection to the Vertical Corridor of which the BRUA pipeline is part It creates a connection between new sources of natural gas from the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea basin with the Trans-Balkan Corridor and the Vertical Corridor “After the successful completion of the BRUA after the successful completion of the Ungheni-Chisinau gas pipeline after the completion of the works allowing the international transmission of natural gas in reverse-flow regime at all interconnection points and after starting the exploitation of Black Sea gas from shallow blocks we are now at the starting line of the Tuzla-Podisor gas pipeline which will allow the natural gas exploited by OMV Petrom and Romgaz from the Black Sea to reach the National Transmission System and every locality in Romania that has access to the natural gas network,” Transgaz CEO Ion Sterian said For the development of the gas transmission infrastructure in Romania through the 10-year Development Plan for the National Gas Transmission System (TYNDP) with investment projects estimated at approximately EUR 3.2 billion that will bring the NTS in line with European transmission and operating requirements and those of the European Green Deal on decarbonisation Transgaz is concerned with expanding and upgrading existing infrastructure through the potential of integrating hydrogen from renewable and low carbon sources into the gas transmission system the company has signed with the European Investment Bank (EIB) an Agreement for the provision of advisory services to prepare and develop a strategy to decarbonize Romania’s gas transmission network TYNDP 2022-2031 was approved by ANRE by Decision No 1944/01.11.2022 and is posted on the company’s website a Memorandum of Understanding for the regional development of a hydrogen network was signed in April 2022 between the gas transmission and system operators (TSOs) of Romania (Transgaz) with the initiative also open to other transmission and system operators In addition to the major projects mentioned above the Modernisation and Development Investment Programme for 2023 and the estimates for the period 2024-2025 also include investments in the development of the NTS in accordance with the provisions of the updated Law 123/2012 with an estimated value of EUR 536 million investments to ensure the extension of the National Transmission System in areas with newly established distribution systems Some of these are declared projects of national importance: Sighetu Marmatiei – Borsa gas transmission pipeline (accepted); Prunisor – Orsova – Baile Herculane – Jupa gas transmission pipeline; Lugasu – Huedin gas transmission pipeline; Ghergheasa – Focsani gas transmission pipeline; Tetila Horezu – Ramnicu Valcea gas transmission pipeline; Ghercesti – Jitaru gas transmission pipeline; gas transmission pipeline for supplying CET Mintia Neamt – Baltasesti gas transmission pipeline Neamt County; Deta – Moravita gas transmission pipeline Timis County; Vernesti – Maracineni – Posta Calnau gas transmission pipeline Stage II – Maracineni – Posta Calnau; Vladimirescu – Lipova gas transmission pipeline; Segarcea – Bailesti – Calafat gas transmission pipeline; Natural gas supply to the town of Borsec; Natural gas supply to the localities on the Moinesti – Asau and Mihaileni – Lunca de Sus consumption routes located in the ‘Trotuș Gaz Palanca’ Intercommunity Development Association (IDA) area Bacau and Harghita Counties; Natural gas supply to the localities on the Scanteia – Deleni and Petresti – Costuleni consumption routes located in the ‘Plaiurile Jijiei’ IDA area Iasi County; Natural gas supply to the localities of Praid Harghita County; Gas transmission pipeline DN 400/DN 300 Timisoara I RMS – Timisoara III RMS; Gas transmission pipeline DN 500 Plataresti – Balaceanca; Gas transmission pipeline DN 250 Techirghiol – Ovidiu; Gas transmission pipeline DN 600 Mihai Bravu – Silistea