site.btaSrbijagas Director: Serbia-Bulgaria NatGas Interconnector Will Be Ready By Next Season

Srbijagas Director Dusan Bajatovic said Thursday that the Serbia-Bulgaria natural gas interconnector will be finished by the beginning of the next heating season, Serbian media reported. About 50% of the pipes have been purchased so far and about 90% of the route has been cleared. About 25% of the pipes have been welded and laying should start. The unbundling has been completed successfully, Bajatovic told Serbian national television RTS. 

According to him, there would be no problem with the completion of the Serbian route from Nis to Dimitrovgrad. He said the Bulgarian side would make the first weld by February 1. Bajatovic expects the interconnector, which will link the Serbian and Bulgarian gas systems, to enable diversification.

He noted that the Bulgarian section is lighter and shorter than the one in Serbia, Serbian media Tanjug added.