Turkish Stream flows to start before 2021

The continuation of the Turkish Stream pipeline to Serbia from Bulgaria has been completed, with flows to start before the end of the year, although the line will not reach full planned capacity until later in 2021, transmission system operator Bulgartransgaz chief executive Vladimir Malinov said.

The operator is waiting for regulator approval to start operations along the line. But first deliveries towards Serbia are to start from 29 or 30 December, Serbian president Aleksandar Vucic said.

The pipeline — which is to receive supply from the second 15.75bn m³/yr arm of Russian state-controlled Gazprom's Turkish Stream pipeline — will only have capacity of about 15mn m³/d at its start, well below planned capacity of 38mn m³/d. But this would be sufficient to deliver the combined 10mn m³/d booked for January-September by Gazprom and Swiss trader MET, although some others may have also accounted for the bookings.

Capacity is expected to climb to 20mn m³/d once the Rasovo compressor station is completed in northwest Bulgaria in March. And the line is to reach full technical capacity in September following the completion of a compressor station at Nova Provadia in northeastern Bulgaria.

Deliveries made to Serbia along the line could reduce Gazprom's need for transport capacity along other routes to European markets, including through Ukraine and on to Hungary, which it uses to supply markets further downstream, including Serbia.

A 6bn m³/yr connection to Hungary is expected to be ready no later than October 2021.

By Martin Vladimirov