Moldova is calling for an increase in the reverse capacity of the Trans-Balkan Pipeline to facilitate regional gas imports amid risks of reduced supplies.
This was announced by State Secretary of the Ministry of Energy Constantin Borosan in an interview with ICIS (Independent Commercial Investigation Service). He noted that Moldova is ready to find a solution to increase gas compression in the pipeline while maintaining security of supply. According to him, the reverse capacity at the cross-border point of the Grebenyky association with Ukraine should be increased from a minimum of 4.5 million cubic meters per day to a technical guaranteed capacity of about 10 million cubic meters per day. However, for such growth, transmission system operators such as Bulgartransgaz will have to increase pressure on the border with Romania by commissioning the Kardam compressor station. In this context, Moldova proposed two solutions. The first option involves gas transmission system operators in transit countries - Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova and Ukraine - sharing the costs of increasing pressure in the Trans-Balkan pipeline. At the same time, the operation of a compressor station in Bulgaria, which will increase the capacity of the gas transmission system at the Grebenyky point, will require 6,300 MWh of methane as fuel. The State Secretary of the Ministry of Energy also clarified that if only Moldova pays for this gas, then the only company that will be able to use the increased capacity will be the Moldovan state company Energocom. “From our point of view, increasing the capacity of reverse gas transportation along the Trans-Balkan gas pipeline is a matter of supply security,” said Сonstantin Borosan. He said the situation was urgent because Moldova had already secured gas supplies for the winter from the Balkan region and was expected to import methane to underground storage facilities in Ukraine via the Trans-Balkan Pipeline. //08.09.2023 — InfoMarket
