Ukraine has imported gas from Azerbaijan via a new route for the first time. The first deliveries are being made via the Trans-Balkan gas pipeline, through Bulgaria and Romania to the Ukrainian border. A small volume has been transported for the trial and testing phase. However, this is a significant first step towards further diversification of energy sources.
Potentially, Ukraine can receive about one billion cubic meters of gas through this pipeline, which will contribute to strengthening Ukraine’s energy security. Gas supplies became possible thanks to the signing of an agreement between the Ukrainian company Naftogaz and the Azerbaijani company SOCAR Energy Ukraine, part of the SOCAR group.
It should be noted that for Ukraine, the Trans-Balkan pipeline means access to new sources of gas:
• liquefied gas coming from all over the world to Greek and Turkish LNG terminals;
• Azerbaijani gas transported by the Transatlantic gas pipeline;
• Romanian and potentially Bulgarian offshore production.
