The construction of the Greece-Bulgaria Interconnector (IGB) has been completed and could start commercial operations this month.

APA reports with reference to "Reuters" that Greek Energy Minister Kostas Skrekas said this at a conference held in Athens.

The minister noted that the construction works have been completed and that he will go to Komotini with Prime Minister Michotakis on July 8 to inaugurate the project:

"It can start operating by the end of this month.

This will undoubtedly provide Bulgaria with security and more gas.

The pipeline, which cost 220 million euros to build, will transport gas from Komotini in northern Greece to Stara Zagora in Bulgaria and will be connected to another pipeline carrying Azerbaijani gas.

The 180-kilometer long pipeline was built by a joint venture between the Bulgarian state energy company BEH, the Greek DEPA gas company and Italy's Edison.

Its capacity is 3 billion cubic meters and it is planned to increase this volume to 5 billion cubic meters in the near future.