The Vertical Gas Corridor: Key Infrastructure for Energy Security in Southeastern Europe

The Executive Director of “Bulgartransgaz“ EAD, Vladimir Malinov, presented the strategic role of the Vertical Corridor for supplies to Europe during the strategic conference within the framework of the Egypt Energy Show (EGYPES) 2026, the company announced. 

The event is held in Cairo under the patronage and in the presence of the President of Egypt, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. EGYPES is a significant energy event for the North Africa and Eastern Mediterranean region, which traditionally gathers international leading companies, institutions and leaders from the sector. This year's edition focuses on regional cooperation, energy transformation, and sustainable development. 

During the discussion panel dedicated to liquefied natural gas, Vladimir Malinov presented the strategic role of the Vertical Corridor for supplies to Europe to leading companies from the gas sector, such as the American “ExxonMobil“ and “Chevron“, the international “Harbour Energy“, as well as others. The participants in the discussion highlighted the categorical role of the Eastern Mediterranean, which is emerging as a gas hub with several projects for liquefied natural gas, the discovered gas fields, and the developing new ones. 

“Gas operators in the region continue to focus their efforts on improving infrastructure in order to guarantee access to energy from the Eastern Mediterranean to the main centers of demand in Europe. The shareholding of “Bulgartransgaz“ in the terminal in Alexandroupolis, as well as our potential involvement in a new project in the region, is not only an investment, but a strategic commitment to our shared regional security and development,” Malinov emphasized, quoted in the announcement. He noted the increasing role of the import of liquefied natural gas (LNG) for Europe, which for 2025 is around 43 percent of the total import of natural gas in the EU, reaching 160 billion cubic meters.

“The countries in the region are interested in expanding the supplies of liquefied natural gas, and the new production projects, both in the Eastern Mediterranean region and in the USA, give us confidence that we can rely on liquefied natural gas in the long term,” he also highlighted, quoted in the announcement of “Bulgartransgaz“. 

The new capacities for the import of liquefied natural gas will also require the adaptation of the transmission infrastructure to ensure the further provision of these quantities. “The Vertical Gas Corridor is of paramount importance for the transmission of the natural gas necessary for the region. This is the only highway from south to north, along which liquefied natural gas from the USA, the Eastern Mediterranean and other secure partners can be delivered to households and businesses in Southeast Europe, expanding the real alternatives for supplies,” said Vladimir Malinov.

This strategic infrastructure for Europe, the implementation of which was first started by “Bulgartransgaz“, will provide all the necessary conditions to guarantee energy security and independence in the region, including for Moldova and Ukraine. “The implementation of the projects on the territory of Bulgaria is being carried out on schedule and is expected to be put into operation by the end of this year,” announced Malinov. 

Thanks to the simultaneous development of infrastructure and the introduction of improved products and services, established by “Bulgartransgaz“ and the operators along the Vertical Gas Corridor over the past week, a significant contribution is being made to the development and integration of the gas markets in the region. 

BTA recalls that on March 27, the operators along the Vertical Gas Corridor reached an agreement with the European Commission to approve a long-term solution to guarantee reliable supplies for Southeast Europe. 

 The Vertical Gas Corridor is supported by the governments of Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, Ukraine, Hungary and Slovakia.