The national energy regulators of Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, and Ukraine have agreed to implement two new routes for transporting natural gas to Ukraine. The new routes, Route 2 and Route 3, will be available for use by April 2026, providing additional opportunities for importing blue fuel, which is extremely relevant given the ongoing attacks by the Russian Federation on Ukrainian gas production facilities.
This is reported by Business • Media
Gas Supply Options and Economic Benefits
With the obtained permits, Ukraine will be able to import gas from two sources: liquefied natural gas from the terminal in Alexandroupolis, as well as Caspian gas transported through the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP). The Greek-Bulgarian interconnector IGB and the Trans-Balkan gas corridor will be used for this purpose. The new capacities of Route 2 and Route 3, along with the already existing Route 1, will be available for booking starting December 22 on the regional booking platform (RBP).
“This represents a significant step forward in strengthening regional gas connectivity and ensuring supply security for Ukraine,” emphasized ICGB.
A key feature of the new routes is their financial attractiveness. The operators of the participating countries have agreed on a 25% discount on the standard monthly tariff, while the “Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine” together with the Bulgarian ICGB offers an additional discount of 46%, significantly reducing the cost of gas transportation for Ukrainian consumers.
Gas Sector Security Amid Attacks from the Russian Federation
At the same time, the situation in Ukraine’s gas production sector remains tense due to regular attacks by the Russian army on energy infrastructure facilities. In particular, at the end of last week, another strike hit a facility of the Smart Energy group located in the Kharkiv region. Such actions by the aggressor highlight the importance of diversifying fuel supply routes and strengthening the country’s energy security.