(Kyiv) – Ukraine has taken a major step towards boosting its energy independence by launching the first auction for a new natural gas transportation route that connects the country to Greece through the Trans Balkan corridor. The move is part of a joint effort between the gas transmission system operators of Ukraine, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania and Moldova.
The Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine (GTSOU) announced that on 29 May, the first auction for booking gas capacity for June 2025 would be held on the Regional Booking Platform (RBP). The capacity on offer totals 31,356,129 kilowatt hours per day. This joint monthly product will be available from June to October 2025, and the auction follows a single price model to ensure transparency and competition.
If some of the proposed capacity remains unbooked, the five participating countries may organise another auction before the end of May. Future auctions are expected to take place on the fourth Monday of each month.
According to Vladyslav Medvedev, Acting Director General of OGTSU, the new gas import route is vital for strengthening the country’s energy security. He stressed that making the Trans Balkan route commercially attractive is especially important given the shortage of gas transmission capacity at key Central European hubs revealed in recent auctions.
The auction system is designed to ensure that the gas will be delivered exclusively to Ukraine. Participants will not have access to virtual trading or exit points in other countries along the route. This guarantees that the product serves Ukraine’s direct energy needs and does not fuel alternative markets.
The initiative is expected to increase the workload of the participating gas transmission networks. However, this coordinated project marks a significant shift in the regional energy strategy, aimed at reducing dependency on unpredictable sources. The Trans Balkan corridor is a strategic alternative route that bypasses Russian-controlled supply channels, strengthening Ukraine’s energy resilience.
The announcement follows Ukraine’s wider strategy to diversify gas imports and break away from the influence of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin’s regime, which has long weaponised energy supplies to destabilise Europe.
