A working meeting for the “Vertical Corridor” initiative was held for the second consecutive year in Thessaloniki on Thursday, September 5. The nine natural gas infrastructure operators involved in the project focused on the progress made, particularly the continued development of critical infrastructure at a national level, as well as the actions needed to implement the required projects for the full activation and utilization of the initiative.
The “Vertical Corridor” aims to enhance energy security and diversify natural gas supply sources in Southeast and Central Europe, enabling the two-way flow of natural gas from South to North—specifically from Greece to Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Moldova, and Ukraine—by connecting existing and new European natural gas and LNG transmission infrastructures. In recent years, significant quantities of LNG from Greece have already reached neighboring countries, with some being stored in underground facilities in Ukraine, utilizing the Vertical Corridor.
During the meeting, the operators of the Vertical Corridor—DESFA, Gastrade, ICGB, BULGARTRANSGAZ, TRANSGAZ, FGSZ, EUSTREAM, VMTG, and GTSOUA—confirmed the importance of continuing their efforts to fully utilize the existing infrastructure of the Vertical Corridor, as well as further exploring ways to eliminate bottlenecks along its route. These efforts aim to create a unified natural gas market in the region and reduce dependence on a single supplier, in full alignment with the European Union’s efforts and the REPowerEU plan objectives.
Prolonged geopolitical instability and the ongoing turmoil caused by the war in Ukraine make the Vertical Corridor a strategic long-term initiative that transcends short-term market fluctuations. In this context, the participants confirmed their commitment to its completion, as a crucial step for a more resilient and diversified European energy landscape, providing alternative sources and supply routes as well as access to storage infrastructure, further strengthening Europe’s energy security.
Finally, the operators welcomed the commencement of commercial operation of Gastrade’s Alexandroupolis FSRU on October 1st, which adds a new Natural Gas gateway to the Vertical Corridor, further strengthening Greece’s role as a Natural Gas gateway for SE Europe. As for next steps, the participants renewed their appointment for October at the next CESEC (Central and Southeastern Europe Energy Connectivity) Ministerial Conference in Budapest, where they will meet with the European Commission to discuss ways in which to ensure the full deployment of the Corridor.
It is worth noting that DESFA is also inaugurating its Technical Training Centre in Nea Mesimvria, Thessaloniki today, the first of its kind in Greece and Southeast Europe. This new center will serve as a regional hub for the development of sustainable gas networks and the transition to hydrogen and renewable gases. Strategically located at a crossroads connecting key energy infrastructures in Northern Greece, the facility further enhances Nea Messimvria’s role as a critical hub for diversifying energy sources and promoting the energy transition in both Greece and the wider region.