New gas routes unlock LNG flow to Ukraine
Gas transmission system operators Vestmoldtransgaz (Moldova), DESFA (Greece), Bulgartransgaz EAD (Bulgaria), Transgaz (Romania), and Gas TSO of Ukraine, alongside ICGB AD (the independent operator of the Greece-Bulgaria Interconnector), have issued a joint letter to national energy regulators.
They urgently requested approval to launch two new cross-border capacity products: Route 2 and Route 3, vital components for the Vertical Gas Corridor.
Expediting approval for these extra products will significantly boost the potential for LNG to Ukraine via Greek terminals.
This move enhances energy security and allows traders to select optimal supply routes based on real-time needs, according to a Transgaz statement released Friday to the Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB).
This initiative represents a concrete step towards strengthening energy independence and European connectivity across the Trans-Balkan Corridor.The letter was signed during the Ministerial Meeting of the Partnership for Transatlantic Energy Cooperation (P-TEC), held in Athens from November 6-7, attended also by Chișinău's Minister of Energy, Dorin Junghietu.
The Transmission System Operators (TSOs) seek regulatory approval for Routes 2 and 3 availability by April 2026. They also requested the option to simultaneously offer special capacity products Route 1, Route 2, and Route 3 during concurrent auctions, Agerpres reports.
To spur market adoption of this new capacity and streamline gas flow diversification, all participating TSOs agreed to implement significant discounts—ranging from 25% to 50%—at their interconnection points. Transgaz noted that these coordinated tariff cuts, coupled with multiple route options, will help mitigate disruptions, ensure uninterrupted supplies to Ukraine, and maximize existing regional infrastructure efficiency."
As the European Commission identified, the Trans-Balkan Corridor, part of the Vertical Corridor, is essential to the EU's strategy to diversify gas transport and phase out reliance on Russian gas," TSOs emphasized in their statement. "Approving Routes 2 and 3 directly aligns with this strategy by utilizing LNG and Caspian Sea gas to bolster long-term energy security and market integration.
"Route 2 originates at the Amfitriti interconnection point within the DESFA network, traverses the Greece-Bulgaria Interconnector (ICGB), and continues via the Trans-Balkan Corridor. Route 3 begins at the ICGB's interconnection point with TAP, following the identical path.DESFA General Manager, Maria Rita Galli, stated: "This initiative marks another crucial, concrete move to boost regional energy security in South-Eastern and Central Europe. Advancing Routes 2 and 3 unlocks the full potential of Greece's LNG infrastructure—including the Revithoussa terminal and the Alexandroupolis FSRU—solidifying Greece's role as a key entry point for diversified gas supplies to Europe. Through DESFA and the Vertical Corridor, Greece enables flexible south-to-north gas flows, ensuring reliable access to diverse resources for the wider region, including Ukraine.
"ICGB Executive Directors Teodora Georgieva and George Satlas confirmed that the Greece-Bulgaria pipeline sits "at the core of the new routes," offering "market-changing flexible opportunities."
Bulgartransgaz Executive Director, Vladimir Malinov, stressed that Routes 1, 2, and 3 represent a tangible, operational measure to secure supply at competitive prices for South-Eastern European nations. "These routes will provide the crucial infrastructure needed to ensure reliable natural gas supply following the total ban on Russian natural gas," he added.
Ion Sterian, Transgaz General Manager, highlighted Romania's long-term commitment: "Romania, via Transgaz, initiated and promoted the Vertical Corridor concept back in 2016. This Corridor and its Trans-Balkan section are fundamental pillars of energy security, directly enabling source and route diversification, reducing dependence on Russian gas, and strengthening resilience for Moldova, Ukraine, and all of Central/Eastern Europe." He confirmed the joint TSO request for Route 2 and 3 approval by April 2026 signals a firm commitment to ensuring Ukraine's gas supply through the Trans-Balkan section.
Sterian further noted that implementing the Vertical Corridor will increase capacity at the Negru Vodă-Kardam IP from $5.03 bcm/year to $9.41 bcm/year, facilitating the uptake of American LNG from existing and planned Greek terminals. Romania, via Transgaz, has completed the necessary reverse flow and metering station work on T2 and T3 pipelines to handle these additional volumes.
Vladyslav Medvediev, General Director of Gas TSO of Ukraine, welcomed the new routes for providing traders with additional commercial avenues for sourcing gas from alternative suppliers to Ukraine at attractive tariffs, cementing Ukraine's position as a reliable European market partner.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
