Bulgaria Accelerates Vertical Gas Corridor to Boost European Energy Security and Cut Russian Dependence

Sofia, The Gulf Observer: Bulgaria is stepping up its role in reshaping Europe’s energy future with rapid progress on the Vertical Gas Corridor—an ambitious regional infrastructure project designed to reduce reliance on Russian gas and enhance energy security across Central and Eastern Europe.

The corridor will transport liquefied natural gas (LNG), regasified at Greek ports such as the Revitusa terminal, northwards to countries including Ukraine, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, and Moldova. Revitusa, with a capacity of 7.5 billion cubic meters annually, has supplied gas to Bulgaria since 2019 and will now serve as a key node in this transnational energy network.

Bulgarian Energy Minister Zhivko Stankov announced this week that construction of the Bulgarian segment will begin within weeks, with the full corridor expected to be operational by the end of 2026. Once completed, it will enable the transit of up to 10 billion cubic meters of gas per year.

Strategic Infrastructure for a New Energy Map

Originally proposed in 2016 and formally announced in 2023, the Vertical Gas Corridor retools the existing Trans-Balkan gas pipeline—previously used to transport Russian gas southward—by reversing its flow. The revamped system will now allow gas from Turkiye, Greece, and beyond to flow north toward Ukraine and other Central and Eastern European nations.

Sofia has committed nearly €500 million to its part of the project and is actively negotiating long-term LNG contracts to ensure steady supply. Talks are underway with Hungary, Moldova, and Ukraine to coordinate joint LNG procurement tenders and secure fixed-price supply agreements, seen as crucial to regional energy stability.

Regional Coordination and Broader Energy Ties

The Vertical Gas Corridor is part of a broader strategy that also includes strengthening cross-border gas transit between Bulgaria and Turkiye. Current capacity between the two countries stands at 3.5 billion cubic meters per year, with plans to double this through upgrades to existing infrastructure.

Although this expanded capacity could also increase Russian gas flows via TurkStream—the only functioning Russian gas route to Europe—Bulgaria and Turkiye are clear about their aim to diversify sources. The upgraded corridor is expected to enable increased imports from Azerbaijan and Central Asia, in line with Turkiye’s goal of becoming a continental energy hub.

Turkiye, which has expressed full support for the Vertical Gas Corridor, is advancing its own “Turkish Blend” strategy to unify gas supplies from over 30 countries into a competitive global brand. Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar emphasized that competition among suppliers and diversified sourcing are key to energy resilience in Europe.

Infrastructure Upgrades and Connectivity

To address bottlenecks in the current gas transmission system, Bulgaria has also initiated construction of two interconnectors to increase capacity toward Greece and Romania. These include parallel pipelines for the Kulata-Sidirokastro and Negru Voda-Kardam routes. Additionally, the 182.6-kilometre Greece-Bulgaria Interconnector (IGB), completed in 2022, is now a key conduit for Azerbaijani gas through the Southern Gas Corridor.

The TAP (Trans Adriatic Pipeline), which currently transports 10 billion cubic meters of Azerbaijani gas annually to Europe, is on course to double capacity to 20 billion by 2027—further strengthening the supply chain through the Vertical Gas Corridor.

A Regional Pivot in Europe’s Energy Strategy

The developments mark a strategic pivot in Europe’s energy geography, with Southeastern Europe emerging as a vital corridor for LNG and non-Russian gas flows. Industry analysts note that the Vertical Gas Corridor, combined with Turkiye’s hub initiative and infrastructure cooperation across Greece, Bulgaria, and Azerbaijan, is creating a new energy architecture for the continent.

In a region once dependent on a single supplier, collaboration is now the driving force behind energy security, resilience, and market diversification. As Bulgaria breaks ground on this next phase, the Vertical Gas Corridor is poised to become a cornerstone of Europe’s energy transition.