Following the commissioning of compressor station Ihtiman in October, today Bulgartransgaz EAD put into operation the compressor station near the village of Lozenets. The reconstruction is part of the project for modernization of four compressor stations – Strandja, Petrich, Lozenets and Ihtiman by means of integrating low emission gas turbine compressor units at a total value of above BGN 200 million. This year will see the commissioning of the modernized compressor stations Strandja and Petrich, as well.
Compressor station Lozenets is part of the route of the transit pipeline passing through the Bulgarian territory to Turkey, Greece and Macedonia. The reconstruction of the compressor station includes expansion of the existing compressor site and the installation of two new gas turbine compressor units next to the existing machines, thereby increasing the power of the combustion equipment. Two new compressor workshops have also been built. The modernization of the facility is carried out by Glavbolgarstroy and the equipment supply is provided by the American company Solar Turbines. The value of the compressor station Lozenets reconstruction amounts to about BGN 70 million.
The ceremony on the commissioning of compressor station Lozenets was attended by the Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, the Energy Minister Temenuzhka Petkova, the USA Ambassador in Bulgaria H.E. Eric Rubin, the Deputy Energy Ministers Zhecho Stankov and Nikolay Nikolov, the CEOs of BEH EAD – Petyo Ivanov, Bulgartransgaz EAD – Georgi Gegov, Bulgargaz EAD – Nikolay Pavlov, the Yambol Regional Governor – Dimitar Ivanov, the Chairman of the Energy Commission – Delyan Dobrev, deputies, local business representatives etc.
The construction of the two new reverse flow compressors is yet another step towards the modernization and rehabilitation of the Bulgarian gas transmission network and the creation of technical opportunities for the realization of the plans for diversification of natural gas sources and routes”, said Georgi Gegov. CEO of Bulgartransgaz EAD.
Diversification has been a topic for years, but it was impossible with the old facilities. Now with the commissioning of the new powerful reverse compressors we can transport natural gas in all directions, said the Prime Minister Boyko Borisov at the opening.
The investments the government makes in the transit and the transmission network, the construction of the interconnections of Bulgaria with the neighbouring countries and the development of the local production are the steps we must make to achieve one of our major priorities – the diversification, highlighted the Energy Minister Temenuzhka Petkova. In her words, the diversification will ensure the security of supplies of our country and competitive prices. The energy sources diversification together with the development of the energy markets is a mandatory condition for the realization of the gas distribution hub concept in Bulgaria.
The modernization brings the four compressor stations in compliance with the European environmental requirements and increases their operational safety.
