Energy crisis: The oil pipelines in Alexandroupolis and Thessaloniki are resurrected – Economic Post
Old investment plans are back on the table due to the energy crisis and the need of active groups to save costs.
Pipelines designed years ago and never used pipelines built and empty of fuel are sought to be brought back to life… oil in the midst of Europe’s green transition efforts.
Read also: Burgas-Alexandroupoli: Greece-Bulgaria discussions are starting again
Greece is also involved in two of these projects. The reason for the oil pipelines Burgas – Alexandroupolis with oil flow from the port of Thrace to the port of Bulgaria and Thessaloniki – Skopje.
The difference between the aforementioned infrastructures is that the first pipeline was agreed 15 years ago between the countries of Russia, Greece and Bulgaria and then abandoned. Today, Sofia brings the project to the fore, asking for the cooperation of Athens, without the involvement of Moscow.
Thessaloniki – Skopje pipeline
The second pipeline is built by Helleniq Energy. It was supposed to operate nine years ago and now the Greek company is seeking its movement as it needs to transport finished petroleum products from the Thessaloniki refinery to the storage facilities of the former OKTA refinery in the capital of North Macedonia. A few days ago, VARDAX, an 80% subsidiary of Helleniq Energy and a 20% state-owned company of North Macedonia, submitted to the competent Energy Regulatory Commission of the neighboring country a request for the re-issuance of an operating license. However, the negotiations of the Greek oil company with Skopje are ongoing for the settlement of old claims of Helleniq Energy.
Alexandroupoli – Burgas pipeline
As far as the Alexandroupoli-Bourgas pipeline is concerned, Sofia is on fire for its construction as the passage of tankers from the Bosphorus Straits to the port of Bulgaria faces difficulties. However, feasibility study. The old pipeline with the participation of the Russians provided for the transport of 35-50 million tons of Russian oil, while the current ones are for 8 million tons.
In addition, one of the questions raised is whether this pipeline will be viable in the future when the sanctions against Russia are lifted.