Bozhinovska outlines gas interconnection timelines: Greece in 2027, Serbia in 2028

The Macedonian section of the gas interconnector with Greece is expected to be completed by mid-2027, while the interconnection with Serbia is scheduled for completion in 2028. The timelines were outlined by Minister of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources Sanja Bozhinovska during a ministerial meeting of the Central and South Eastern Europe Energy Connectivity initiative (CESEC) in Zagreb, attended by ministers from the region and representatives of European institutions.

Work on the connection with Greece is progressing as North Macedonia steps up efforts to establish new gas interconnections with its neighbours. Through these links, the country aims to strengthen energy security, diversify its supply sources and improve connections with regional energy markets.

Bozhinovska described the implementation of these two projects as a significant development in consolidating the country’s position in the regional gas network and connecting it to the Vertical Gas Corridor. The new infrastructure will provide the technical conditions for natural gas supplies from multiple sources and routes, reducing reliance on a single dominant supply route.

The interconnector with Greece is particularly important because it opens up another supply route for the Macedonian market. This includes the possibility of accessing natural gas delivered through the Greek gas network and liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals.

Meanwhile, the connection with Serbia aims to deepen regional integration and provide greater flexibility in both the transport and supply of natural gas.

Emphasising the need for timely investment in energy infrastructure and cooperation among countries in the region, the minister said energy security was now a necessity, rather than simply a strategic choice.

Discussions at the Zagreb meeting were not limited to infrastructure connections. Ministers also addressed the modernisation and integration of energy markets, accelerating investment in renewable energy sources and developing new technologies that could support the energy transition.

The potential of hydrogen as an energy source for the energy system of the future featured prominently in the discussions. Bozhinovska said North Macedonia had already drawn up its first national hydrogen study, which serves as a starting point for further assessment of opportunities for its production, transport and use.

According to the minister, the construction of new energy infrastructure must be accompanied by reforms and measures that make the system more resilient to climate change. She stressed that future investments should focus not only on expanding capacity and improving regional connections, but also on building a more secure, flexible and sustainable system.

At the heart of the infrastructure projects and reforms is the goal of ensuring a stable and secure energy supply for citizens, while enabling domestic companies to operate under more favourable and predictable conditions.

The completion of the interconnector with Greece in 2027 and the connection with Serbia in 2028 are expected to strengthen North Macedonia’s role in the region’s energy infrastructure. At the same time, the country aims to become less vulnerable to potential interruptions or disruptions to natural gas supplies.