The role of Azerbaijani gas in ensuring diversified supplies to Europe has significantly increased in recent years, and this is unlikely to change anytime soon, according to Teodora Georgieva, the Executive Director of the ICGB pipeline company.

Report quotes Georgieva as saying the Greece-Bulgaria interconnector (IGB) directly connects to the TAP pipeline, making Bulgaria part of the Southern Gas Corridor and providing access to reliable natural gas supplies from diversified sources for both the country and the wider region. Notably, gas supplies from Azerbaijan have been the foundation of the IGB pipeline in the initial stages of its development.

"Azerbaijan has significant gas potential in undeveloped fields, and I believe that these volumes will be mainly transported through our infrastructure [IGB]," Georgieva stated. "With the news of the expansion of the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline's capacities and Azerbaijan's commitment to increase natural gas export volumes to Europe in the coming years, we believe there are also opportunities to strengthen IGB's role."

Georgieva also noted that the ICGB consortium has developed an excellent relationship with the Azerbaijani side, describing Azerbaijan as a key and extremely reliable partner in supplying gas to Europe. "Over time, we have built long-term relationships and mutual trust, which are not easy to achieve," she added.

Furthermore, Georgieva emphasized IGB's central role in the Vertical Gas Corridor, particularly due to its direct connection to the Southern Gas Corridor. "The pipeline's location is highly strategic, as it is at a kind of crossroads - directly connecting Bulgaria to the Southern Gas Corridor, allowing for supply diversification, and also being in synergy with the Trans-Balkan Pipeline, providing numerous opportunities for transportation to third markets," she explained.