On 21 December 2018 Bulgartransgaz EAD launched the binding Phase 3 of the Open Season Procedure for the „Project for the development and expansion of the gas transmission system“.
Four candidates in the procedure have been registered within the registration window by 11 January 2019. Three of them submitted binding tenders for participation in Phase 2 of the economic test within the 22 January - 23 January 2019 deadline.
The binding nominations as submitted by the registered candidates showed great interest in a considerable part of the announced capacity. The capacity nominated by the participants in the procedure on the Bulgarian-Turkish border amounts to about 100% of the entry capacity, announced by Bulgartransgaz EAD. On the Bulgarian-Serbian border the participants have nominated about 90% of the exit capacity, announced by Bulgartransgaz EAD.
Provided that Phase 2 of the economic test is considered positive only if booking of 100% of the capacity offered for each gas year has been made, Bulgartransgaz EAD will publish the conditions for Phase 3 of the economic test not later than 28 January 2019.
Where incremental capacity demand for a given gas year at any point is lower compared to the capacity offered within Phase 2, the capacity for the respective gas year to be offered in Phase 3 will be reduced. Reservation prices will therefore be adjusted in line with the amount of the capacity offered and the financial parameters of the procedure, approved by the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission.
In case of positive result of Phase 3 of the economic test, the Open Season procedure will end successfully by 31 January 2019 with the signing of binding Transport Contracts.