Bulgartransgaz EAD announces three open public procurements in accordance with the Public Procurement Act linked with the expansion of Chiren underground gas storage facility. The project is key to the improvement of the energy security and increase in the competition and natural gas market liquidity in the country and the region.
As of 2013, the expansion of Chiren UGS has a status of a “project of common interest” and is part of all lists of PCIs of the European Union drafted in accordance with Regulation (ЕU) No.347/2013. The PCI is a priority project within the Three Seas Initiative as well.
The expansion of the underground gas storage facility is included in the Energy Strategy of the Republic of Bulgaria and together with the projects for the Bulgartransgaz EAD infrastructure modernization, the liquefied gas terminal near Alexandroupolis and the interconnectors with Serbia and Greece, it is an integral part of the infrastructure development in Bulgaria.
The first public procurement for the “Procurement of the necessary materials and equipment, construction and commissioning of site: Expansion of Chiren UGS capacity - Above-ground part” includes the activities related to the construction and commissioning of a new above-ground equipment - a compressor station with all of the auxiliary equipment to ensure a reliable and continuous operation for natural gas injection and withdrawal and a new gas metering station. This will create the technical possibility for the staged development of Chiren underground gas storage facility, ensure the required new highly reliable compressors, enabling the achievement of the parameters, laid down in the technological design. The new equipment will ensure the required new reliable equipment for the rehabilitation of the existing sites of the gas transmission network and the construction of new ones. This will increase the operational safety and increase the capacities of Chiren UGS.
The estimated value of the public procurement totals to BGN 300 000 000.00, VAT excluded (three hundred million).
The economically most advantageous offer will be determined based on the selected best value for money awarding criterion according to indicators related to the operation of the gas turbine engines, the organisation envisaged by the participants for the implementation of the activities from the subject matter of the public procurement and the pricing parameters.
The financing of activities within the scope of the procurement will be carried out with borrowed funds and a grant aid under the signed Grant Agreement within the Connecting Europe Facility programme.
The documentation on participation has been published in CAIS EOP at https://app.eop.bg/today/219528
The second public procurement for the “Spatial planning, investment design, procurement of the necessary materials and equipment, construction and commissioning of the construction site: „Expansion of Chiren UGS capacity – Wells” includes the activities of design, construction and commissioning of underground facilities - ten new exploitation and three observation wells, as well as new gatherings that connect each exploitation well to the new compressor station. The construction of the facilities will create the technical possibility for the gradual expansion of the Chiren storage facility as it will increase its operational safety and boost its capacity.
The expected value of the public procurement totals to BGN 133 694 000 (one hundred and thirty-three million and six hundred and ninety-four thousand), VAT excluded.
The most economically advantageous offer will be determined based on the selected best value for money awarding criterion according to indicators, including the organisation for implementation of the activities provided for by the participants and the proposed price.
The financing of activities within the scope of the procurement will be carried out with borrowed funds and a grant aid under the signed Grant Agreement within the Connecting Europe Facility programme.
The documentation on participation has been published in CAIS EOP at https://app.eop.bg/today/219854.
The third public procurement for the “Investment design, supply of the necessary materials and equipment, construction and commissioning of construction site: Gas pipeline connecting Chiren UGS to the existing gas transmission network of Bulgartransgaz EAD in the area of Butan village” includes the activities of design, construction and commissioning of a gas pipeline with a length of about 41 km and a diameter of DN 700 mm, optic cable line and two gas pipeline pigging facilities. The gas pipeline construction to the underground gas storage is directly linked to the possibilities for the capacity expansion of the storage facility itself, thus increasing the safety of operation and security of natural gas transmission to and from Chiren UGS. The capacity of the facility will increase in commercial terms, thereby contributing to the integration of the underground facility as a key factor for the stability of the market in Bulgaria and the region. Furthermore, a possibility to supply natural gas to adjacent regions will be ensured, thus allowing the replacement of the currently used solid fuels, contributing to the reduction of harmful emissions.
The estimated value of the public procurement totals to BGN 83 915 000,00 (eighty-three million nine hundred and fifteen), VAT excluded.
The most economically advantageous tender shall be determined based on the selected best value for money awarding criterion according to indicators, including term of implementation, the organisation for implementation of the activities provided for by the participants and price offered.
The financing of the activities will be made by Bulgartransgaz EAD with own funds.
The documentation on participation has been published in CAIS EOP at https://app.eop.bg/today/228441
The deadline for the submission of offers for participation in the three public procedures is by 23:59 on 19 September 2022.