At a Glance

Eastring is a new pipeline project for Central and South-eastern Europe, which represents an important step to the Single European Gas Market in the vision for the Energy Union and is included in the 3rd EU list of projects of common interest (PCI projects).

Eastring is a bi-directional gas pipeline interconnector with the annual capacity between 225,500 GWh up to 451,000 GWh (ca. 20 bcm up to 40 bcm), connecting Slovakia with the external border of the EU in Bulgaria through the territory of Hungary and Romania.

Eastring will offer a direct and the most cost-effective transmission route between the West EU liquid hubs and the Balkan region/Turkey (e.g. Balkan Gas Hub) - an area with a potential to become a highly liquid region offering gas from various sources. By offering the opportunity for diversification of transmission routes as well as supply sources, it will enhance the security of supply in the broader region, especially in the countries of the South-eastern Europe.

Eastring will be open for natural gas from well-established as well as alternative new sources from the Caspian/eastern Mediterranean/Black Sea/Middle East region. At the same time, it will be able to provide South-eastern Europe with gas from European gas hubs. The whole capacity will be available to any shipper or supplier.

The Feasibility Study co-funded by the European Commission, completed in September 2018, has shown the positive results of the market testing and proves the project is feasible. The outcomes of the Feasibility Study enable its promoters to proceed to the next phases of the project.

Pipeline Routing

The project has been considered in more alternative options for rerouting the pipeline and the level of usage of the existing infrastructure recently. The Eastring Feasibility Study shows that the Option 2A from the compressor station Veľké Zlievce to Malcoçlar (the border of Bulgaria and Turkey) is the most feasible route from a technical and environmental point of view.
Read more: Routing

Careful Construction

The pipeline will be built using tried and tested techniques, adhering to environmental protection requirements and respecting the nature of the area along the pipeline’s route.
Read more: Capacity & Construction

Capacity to Expand

Eastring initial I. phase capacity of 20 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year with bi-directional flow will be provided. This amount covers the whole Balkan’s natural gas annual import. Anticipating future needs, the capacity could double to 40 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year by constructing of additional compressor stations within the II. phase.
Read more: Capacity & Construction

Project Added Value
  • Eastring is fully compliant with EU rules, a project with unrestricted access for third parties.
  • Eastring secures natural gas supply for 100 percent of all Balkan countries' consumption.
  • Eastring provides western shippers with a possibility to supply Balkan countries and even Turkey from the European hubs (NCG, Gaspool, Baumgarten, TTF).
  • Eastring is a new pipeline corridor ready for future gas imports to Europe from well-established as well as alternative new sources – the Black Sea area, the Caspian region, the Middle East, potential Turkish/Bulgarian gas hub, etc.
  • Eastring is the most cost- and time-efficient project to construct in the region concerned.

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