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Bulgarian operator launches 860 million euro hydrogen pipeline project. Bulgatransgaz, the operator of Bulgaria’s public gas transmission system, said it is in the early stages of developing a new hydrogen infrastructure project that will require an investment of 860 million euros in the near future; this project will be part of a future hydrogen corridor running from Southeast Europe to Central Europe. In a draft 10-year investment plan released recently, Bulgartransgaz stated that a project is under development to connect with a similar infrastructure developed by its peer DESFA in Greece. This project will include a new 250-kilometer pipeline running through southwestern Bulgaria, as well as two new gas compression stations located in the Petrich and Dupnitsa-Bobov Dol areas. This pipeline will enable two-way hydrogen flow between Bulgaria and Greece, and establish a new connection point in the Kulata-Sidirokastro border area. EHB is an alliance of 32 energy infrastructure operators, of which Bulgartransgaz is a member. Under the investment plan, by 2027 Bulgartransgaz will allocate another 438 million euros to upgrade the existing natural gas transport infrastructure so that it can carry up to 10% hydrogen. The project is still in the exploration phase, aiming to develop an intelligent gas network in the country. Bulgatransgaz stated in a statement that the renovation projects of the existing natural gas transmission network could also be granted status as critical European infrastructure. Its goal is to create opportunities for integrating and transporting renewable gas mixtures with hydrogen concentrations as high as 10%.