Bulgaria plans to launch the Vertical Gas Corridor by the fourth quarter of 2026.

Bulgaria plans to operationalize the Vertical Gas Corridor connecting Greece to northern Europe by the end of 2026, according to the energy ministry in Sofia.

In 2016, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, and Hungary agreed to develop the necessary infrastructure for the Vertical Gas Corridor, which enables two-way gas transmission among the participating nations. Last year, Ukraine, Moldova, and Slovakia joined the initiative.

Bulgarian energy minister Zhecho Stankov stated in a press release that their goal is to operationalize the Kulata-Kresna section, currently under construction, by the second quarter of next year, and to finish the Rupcha-Vetrino section by the fourth quarter. The 61-kilometre Rupcha-Vetrino segment is anticipated to receive a construction permit by the end of July.

Stankov also inspected a new shipment of pipes for the project that arrived at the Black Sea port of Burgas on Tuesday, marking the second delivery for the initiative; a March shipment has already been partially laid along the Kulata-Kresna section. A third delivery is scheduled for early August.

Once finished, the pipeline will double the capacity at the Bulgaria-Romania entry/exit point to 10 billion cubic metres.

The state-owned transmission operator Bulgartransgaz is working with regional partners to establish uniform transmission tariffs along the corridor. Following the cessation of Russian gas supply to Ukraine, this route is expected to become the region's primary supply channel.

The Vertical Gas Corridor aims to enhance energy security and ensure a reliable supply by providing Bulgaria and Southeast Europe access to various natural gas sources. To support its establishment, two capacity expansion projects are in progress to facilitate increased gas flows from Greece through Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, and Moldova, potentially reaching Ukraine.

Last month, Bulgartransgaz announced it is seeking 200 million levs ($119.9 million/102.3 million euro) in loan financing to expand its infrastructure as part of the Vertical Gas Corridor.