Vladimir Malinov: Chiren UGS Expansion will provide flexibility and security to the market
“Chiren underground gas storage facility will provide more flexibility and security to the natural gas market in Bulgaria and the region”, said the Executive Director of Bulgartransgaz EAD Vladimir Malinov during the start of the actual construction works on the above-ground part. He stressed that because of the connectivity of the gas transmission system and the increase of the transmission capacities at the interconnection points with the neighbouring countries, the Bulgarian market has not felt the disruption of supplies from Russia. Malinov thanked the contractors of the project and the US partners Solar Turbines, Honeywell and Emerson.
Following the opening of the construction site on 14 July, today the actual construction works on the project for Expansion of Chiren UGS - above ground part have started. The Minister of Energy Rumen Radev, Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy to Bulgaria Andrea Brouillette-Rodriguez, Executive Director of Bulgartransgaz Vladimir Malinov, representatives of the local authorities and MPs attended the event.
The US Deputy Chief of Mission Ms Rodriguez expressed support for the project and stressed the importance of security, including energy security. In the words of Energy Minister Rumen Radev, with the implementation of the underground storage expansion, Bulgaria will be a serious regional factor in the storage of natural gas.
The availability of sufficient gas storage, withdrawal and injection capacity is of key importance for ensuring the security of supply, successful entry on the market of alternative sources, including LNG and for the regional market development. The project of Chiren UGS expansion will increase the active gas volume up to 1 bcm and the daily withdrawal and injection capacity up to 8-10 mcm. In order to achieve the objectives of the storage expansion, activities are carried out on construction of new above-ground and underground facilities, and of a gas pipeline connecting Chiren UGS with the existing gas transmission system of Bulgartransgaz EAD.
DZZD TECH ENERGY EXPANSION consortium was selected for supply of the necessary materials and equipment, construction and commissioning of new above-ground facilities. As part of the new above-ground infrastructure, four gas turbine compressor units, natural gas injection and withdrawal facilities and a gas metering station will be constructed. Compressors of the leading American company Solar Turbines, Honeywell electronics and Emerson equipment will be installed when implementing the above-ground part of the Chiren expansion.
