Interconnector

Prime Minister Boyko Borisov met his Serbian counter-part Aleksandar Vučić within the framework of the annual meeting of government leaders of the countries in Central and Eastern Europe and China held in Riga.

The conversation focused on energy and joint infrastructure projects.

The deadline for binding offers to book capacity of the Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria (IGB) project has been extended to the end of November, the project company has said.

The deadline for binding offers for the use of the natural gas pipeline between Bulgaria and Greece has been extended by a month to the end of November due to requests from bidders, the joint venture that runs the project said on Monday.

Azerbaijan with supply Bulgaria with gas that will be destined for the "Balkan Gas Hub", according to the Bulgarian Energy Ministry.

The decision was taken at the 4th intergovernmental committee in Baku, where 2020 was confirmed as a beginning.

A protocol that will pave the way for a study into gas deliveries options to third countries was also signed at the meeting.

Bulgarian and Azerbaijani officials are set to discuss the prospects for gas deliveries at an intergovernmental session on Thursday and Friday, Energy Minister Temenuzhka Petkova has said.

Petkova will not be attending the discussions, with Economy Minister Bozhidar Lukarski heading the delegation.

Bulgaria should work to complete the interconnectors linking its gas transportation networks with Greece and Romania, the EU Commission spokesperson for Specific Energy Union Projects has said.

Bulgarian Energy Minister Temenuzhka Petkova has voiced her hope that the construction of an interconnector with Romania will be complete by the end of 2016, becoming the country's first gas link with a neighboring state.

There is "a clear view" in the region that the Balkan Gas Hub can be carried through, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov has said.

While the existing gas transportation network of the country can pump gas as far as Thessaloniki in Greece, countries such as neighboring Serbia hold "a huge interest" in the project, he has argued.

The joint venture building the natural gas pipeline between Bulgaria and Greece is seeking binding bids for the use of the gas link by the end of October, its chief executive said on Monday.

Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria (IGB), estimated to cost 220 million euros, has received nine expressions of interest to transport gas through it for a total capacity of 4.3 billion cubic meters.

Diversification of sources and routes of natural gas supply is among the top priorities of Bulgaria's government, Prime Minister Boyko Borisov has said at a meeting with Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias.