Tsipras: IGB to turn the Balkans into an energy hub

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras highlighted the importance of the vertical gas corridor Interconnector Greece Bulgaria (IGB), a gas pipeline that will link Greece and Bulgaria, after inaugurating its construction with Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov at Kirkovo, Bulgaria on Wednesday.

Energy security and the diversification of energy sources remains a very high priority for Greece, said Tsipras, underlining that "the TransAdriatic Pipeline (TAP), the vertical corridor, East MED pipeline and the planned liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Alexandroupolis, the LNG terminal in Revythoussa and the Turkish Stream 2 are all projects that strengthen the economic and geopolitical role of Greece, of its friend Bulgaria and of the whole region".

Tsipras also said that "with the vertical corridor, whose first section is the IGB, an energy transport network is beginning to form that will turn the Balkans into an energy hub. A large part of the gas in IGB will come from TAP, which is expected to operate in 2020 and will bring natural gas from Azerbaijan to the European markets".

The Greek prime minister noted that "Greece, via an active foreign policy that led to the historic Prespes Agreement but also through a series of multilateral actions in Southeastern Europe and in the Eastern Mediterranean has upgraded its role as a pillar of stability and cooperation in the region".