Bozhinovska: Macedonia Moving Towards Inclusion in the Vertical Gas Corridor

The Ministry of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources announced that Macedonia has received an invitation to become part of the Vertical Gas Corridor, an important European initiative aimed at expanding natural gas sources and enhancing energy security in Southeastern, Central and Eastern Europe.

According to the Ministry, the country’s inclusion in the expansion of this corridor towards the Western Balkans began following a series of meetings held by Minister Bozhinovska. During her visit to Washington, she met with senior representatives of the US administration, with regional energy connectivity and diversification of natural gas supplies being the main focus.

The activities continued at the Energy Transition Summit in Athens, where Bozhinovska held bilateral talks with energy ministers from the region. Following these contacts, the procedure was launched for Macedonia’s integration into the expansion of the Vertical Gas Corridor towards the Western Balkans.

The decision was confirmed in Athens at a meeting of gas transmission system operators, where an agreement was reached for NOMAGAS to be included in this framework of regional cooperation. Alongside Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, Ukraine, Slovakia and Hungary, which already participate in this initiative, Macedonia and Serbia are also in the membership process.

For the Ministry of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources, this development represents an important step towards the strategic goal of ensuring that Macedonia plays an active role in the European energy network, securing a stable, diversified and competitive supply of natural gas.

The Ministry clarified that joining the Vertical Gas Corridor does not mean building just one new gas pipeline. It involves connecting to a coordinated European system consisting of national gas pipelines, interconnectors and terminals, which enable the transport of natural gas in different directions, from southern to northern Europe.

Minister Bozhinovska stressed that inclusion in the corridor significantly increases the strategic importance of infrastructure investments. According to her, the interconnectors with Greece and Serbia will not remain merely national projects, but will become part of a broader European transport network. This, she said, will enable more efficient use of capacity, greater flexibility and higher security of supply, while the country will gain an important transit role for gas in the region and Europe.

At a time when Europe is rapidly changing its energy structure and seeking new supply routes, membership in this initiative places Macedonia on the new European energy map at the right time. The importance of the Vertical Gas Corridor is also reflected in the strong interest shown by energy companies in transport capacity, indicating that it is being recognised as one of the key future routes for natural gas transport in the region.

The Ministry announced that formal accession is expected to take place in September in Thessaloniki, where the declaration on joining the Vertical Gas Corridor cooperation framework will officially be signed. Through this step, Macedonia is expected to strengthen its energy security and position itself as an important part of the new regional infrastructure, aimed at ensuring a safer, more competitive and more resilient natural gas supply for the entire region.