Ministry: Intensive work continues on Greece and Serbia interconnectors; domestic gas network being commissioned
Ministry says Greece link is largely built, Serbia pipeline in design and domestic network is being technically commissioned.
The Ministry of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources says construction on the international gas interconnectors with Greece and Serbia is progressing on schedule while work continues to commission the domestic transmission network.
On the north–south link with Greece — 68 kilometres on the Macedonian side — the ministry reports that 64 kilometres of pipe have been delivered, 43 kilometres welded and 18 kilometres already lowered into the trench. Expropriation for the route is about 97 percent complete. The project is financed with grants and loans from the EIB and the EBRD and is expected to be finished in mid‑2027.
Progress on the Serbian interconnector and the domestic grid
Parallel work is under way on the 23‑kilometre interconnector to Serbia. After the contract signed in August 2026, design and route‑definition activities are ongoing. According to the ministry, this line will be funded from NOMAGAS's own resources.
For the domestic transmission system — a total of 277 kilometres — technical inspections, servicing and drying are being carried out on the Klechovce–Negotino and Negotino–Bitola sections. The same procedures will follow for the Skopje–Tetovo–Gostivar route so the lines can be put into safe operation.
The ministry rejects opposition claims that a recent budget rebalance cuts funding for gasification, saying the adjustments in the gasification subprogram reflect market realities rather than a halt to construction. It adds that funds originally earmarked for strategic reserves of natural gas could not be used on the planned timetable because cross‑border transport capacities toward Bulgaria were limited.
"Progress should be assessed according to the works carried out and the technical conditions met, and not through general political qualifications of abandoning gasification. The Ministry remains focused on safely putting the infrastructure into operation and creating conditions for a more secure and diversified supply of natural gas," the Ministry of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources said.
Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, speaking about the two interconnectors roughly ten days ago, said the links with the northern and the southern neighbour will significantly raise North Macedonia's geostrategic importance. He expects one of the lines to be put into operation by the end of the first half of next year and the other by the end of 2028.
Photo: press material from the event
