Kick off for the Alexandroupolis FSRU by the Prime Ministers of Greece and Bulgaria

The kickoff for the realization of the FSRU of LNG in Alexandroupolis by Gastrade SA was formally given in a special ceremony that took place in the old Storage House of the Alexandroupolis Port Customs on Tuesday. The Prime Minister of Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and the Prime Minister of Bulgaria, Kiril Petkov, co-signed the special symbolic plaque for the commencement of the realization of the project, which will become a new energy gateway, playing a key role not only in the energy security and independence of Greece, but for the entire Southeastern Europe, contributing decisively to the smooth energy transition and energy pluralism of this extremely sensitive region.

The event was also attended and addressed by the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, the Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Dimitar Kovačevski, the US Ambassador, Geoffrey Pyatt, as well as representatives of the local government, including the Regional Governor of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, Christos Metios, and the Mayor of Alexandroupolis, Giannis Zampoukis.

The construction and operation of the Alexandroupolis FSRU will strengthen the strategic role of Greece as an energy hub for the wider region of Southeastern Europe and will offer alternative sources and gas supply routes to the region, enhancing energy security of supply and energy autonomy, during challenging times. The project will also make Alexandroupolis an energy gateway for the entire region of Southeastern Europe, highlighting the strategic importance of the city and stimulating the local economy and employment.

The FSRU, with a capacity of 153,500 cm₃ of LNG, will be connected to the National Natural Gas Transmission System (NNGΤS) of Greece with a 28 km long pipeline, through which the gasified LNG will be transmitted to the markets of Greece, Bulgaria and the wider region (Romania, Serbia, North Macedonia etc.), with the prospect of supplying Ukraine, as well.

The Alexandroupolis FSRU is expected to operate by the end of 2023, with the contracted regasification capacity reaching already up to 60% of its technical capacity of 5.5 Bcm₃ per year. It is noted that the Independent Natural Gas System (INGS) of Alexandroupolis is included and financed by the Operational Program of the NSRF "Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship and Innovation 2014-2020" (EPAnEK), with an amount of public spending of 166.7 MM Euros.

Gastrade has also submitted to the Regulatory Authority for Energy, an application for a new INGS license, for the project "Thrace INGS", which will also consist of an FSRU and will be developed near the first FSRU at the Sea of Thrace, offshore Alexandroupolis.

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