Two tenders related to the project for the construction of gas interconnection with Serbia were launched by Bulgartransgaz, Bulgarian state-owned natural gas transmission system operator.
The first tender is for technical design of the gas interconnection on Bulgarian territory, with an estimated price of some 275,000 euros, VAT excluded. Deadline for the submission of bids for this tender is 3 July.
The second tender envisages provision of consultancy services and construction supervision for an estimated price of 160,000 euros, VAT excluded. Deadline is 17 July.
The statement from the operator said that the ranking of bidders in both tender procedures will be made on the basis of the most economically advantageous offer, expressed as the optimal quality/price ratio, according to objective indicators such as the period of implementation and price parameters.
Last week, Bulgartransgaz said that it is seeking to obtain a loan of up to 400 million euros in order to finance some key gas infrastructure projects, such as the construction of a Bulgarian section of TurkStream gas pipeline extension. The company already published an invitation to tender for obtaining a loan with a repayment term of six years, which will be used to cover its operating and investment costs related to this and other gas infrastructure projects: gas interconnection between Bulgaria and Serbia, the expansion of Chiren underground gas storage facility and the construction of gas transmission pipelines. The lowest price, offered by the selected contractors for the construction of the Bulgarian TurkStream section, namely 3.9 % per annum, serves as a benchmark for the price of the prospective loans. The deadline for the submission of offers is 30 June. According to Bulgatransgaz, this procedure will raise financial resources for the implementation of its investment program, aimed to diversify the sources, increase the security of gas supply and position Bulgaria as a regional gas distribution hub.