The European Commission has approved more than €4.5 million in funding for Bulgaria’s first major move toward building a dedicated hydrogen transport system, backing a project led by gas transmission system operator Bulgartransgaz. The financing, awarded through the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), supports preparatory activities for infrastructure that is expected to play a key role in Europe’s future hydrogen network.
The initiative has been granted Project of Common Interest (PCI) status, placing it among the European Union’s priority energy investments. Bulgartransgaz noted that this makes the scheme the only hydrogen-related project in eastern Europe approved under the current EU funding round, underscoring its strategic importance at regional level.
The project focuses on the initial phase of Bulgaria’s hydrogen backbone, envisaging a dedicated pipeline of around 250 kilometers linking Sofia with the Greek border near Kulata. The plan includes the construction of two new compressor stations and related technical facilities, forming Bulgaria’s contribution to a broader Southeastern European Hydrogen Corridor that would connect Greece with central Europe and Germany.
EU funding will be directed toward early-stage development, rather than physical construction. This includes feasibility and technical studies, spatial and environmental assessments, archaeological surveys and detailed engineering design, all of which are prerequisites for future investment decisions.
Bulgartransgaz views the project as a strategic extension of its role in regional energy security and the energy transition. Together with its participation in the Vertical Gas Corridor and digital energy initiatives linking Asia and Europe, the hydrogen pipeline is intended to position Bulgaria as an active player in the shift toward low-carbon energy systems across southeastern Europe.
