North Macedonia’s Minister of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources, Sanja Bozhinovska, has presented the timelines for two key gas interconnection projects with neighboring countries. According to her, the Macedonian segment of the interconnector with Greece is expected to be completed by mid-2027.
The connection with Serbia is planned for 2028. The timelines were made known during the ministerial meeting of the Central and South-Eastern Europe Energy Connectivity (CESEC) initiative. The meeting was held in Zagreb, with the participation of regional ministers and representatives of European institutions.
Bozhinovska described both projects as important steps toward strengthening the country’s position in the regional gas network. She also emphasized their link to the Vertical Gas Corridor. According to the minister, the construction of new interconnections creates the technical preconditions for access to more sources and directions of natural gas supply.
This reduces dependence on a single dominant supply direction. She stressed that energy security today is a necessity and not merely a strategic choice. The minister underlined the importance of regional cooperation and timely investment in energy infrastructure.
The interconnector with Greece is considered particularly important. It should provide an additional supply direction for the Macedonian market. This also includes possible access to natural gas arriving through Greek gas infrastructure and liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals.
On the other hand, the planned connection with Serbia aims to further strengthen regional integration. It seeks to create conditions for greater flexibility in the transport and supply of natural gas. At the Zagreb meeting, in addition to infrastructure interconnection, the ministers also discussed the modernization and integration of energy markets.
They also discussed accelerating investment in renewable energy sources. The development of new technologies that can contribute to the energy transition was also addressed. Special attention was paid to the opportunities for using hydrogen as an energy carrier in the energy system of the future.
In this regard, Bozhinovska informed that North Macedonia has already prepared its first national hydrogen study. This establishes the basis for further examination of the potential for the production, transport and use of this energy carrier. The minister stressed that the development of new energy infrastructure must be accompanied by reforms and measures to increase the resilience of the energy system to climate change.
According to her, future investments should be oriented not only toward increasing capacities and improving regional connectivity. They should also aim to create a more secure, flexible and sustainable energy system. The ultimate goal of infrastructure projects and reforms is to ensure a stable and secure energy supply for citizens.
The aim is also to create more favorable and predictable conditions for the operation of local companies. With the planned completion of the interconnector with Greece in 2027 and the connection with Serbia in 2028, North Macedonia aims to strengthen its role in regional energy infrastructure. It also seeks to reduce vulnerability to possible interruptions or disruptions in natural gas supply.