Construction of gas interconnector with North Macedonia to begin in mid-2026 – Estimated investment value around EUR 153 million

The construction permit for the construction of the gas interconnection between Serbia and North Macedonia is planned to be obtained in mid-2026 and construction to begin immediately thereafter, said Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic after talks with Minister of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources of North Macedonia Sanja Bozinovska about the construction of this gas interconnection, as well as cooperation within the Energy Community.

Djedovic Handanovic said that, after the construction of the gas interconnection with Bulgaria, Serbia continued to diversify its supply routes, where one of the priorities was the construction of a gas pipeline to North Macedonia. The Minister stated that joint dynamic plans had been discussed and that the goal was to complete the Serbia-North Macedonia gas interconnection by the end of 2027, so that it would be operational by the beginning of 2028.

She stated that the estimated investment value for about 144 kilometers of gas pipeline on the territory of Serbia was around EUR 153 million, and that part of the funds was also envisaged in the budget for 2026.

Djedovic Handanovic pointed out that the planned capacity of the gas interconnection with North Macedonia was around 1.5 billion cubic meters of gas, and that it was planned to run along the Orljane–Leskovac–Vranje–state border route.

The minister noted that the capacity of the gas interconnection with Bulgaria was 1.8 billion cubic meters per year and that with the completion of the interconnection with North Macedonia, as well as the planned interconnection with Romania, whose capacity would be between 1.6 and 2.5 billion cubic meters, Serbia would have a fully diversified gas supply in the next few years.

According to her, they also discussed the supply of petroleum products, the possibility of covering part of the needs, primarily for southern Serbia, from North Macedonia, which would also provide logistical support in road and rail transport.

Djedovic Handanovic noted that they also discussed cooperation and joint action within the Energy Community, especially on the topic of introducing the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). The minister said that it had been agreed to act in a coordinated manner on that issue and to request a postponement of the introduction of the CBAM.

Bozinovska said that the interconnector with Serbia was a key project that would open North Macedonia to new sources of gas and strengthen regional energy stability and one of the most important regional infrastructure projects - important not only for North Macedonia and Serbia, but also for the whole of Europe. She assessed that with that new energy connection, both countries gained access to alternative sources and routes, and Europe gained a stronger and better connected Balkans.

Bozinovska emphasized that that was why accelerated coordination between institutions and operators was being insisted on, because every day brought everybody closer to greater security for citizens and the economy.

– We have completed studies, an agreed route, support from European partners and a clear implementation schedule. Our goal is for the interconnector to become a reality as soon as possible. Coordinated construction action is already underway. We will work together to make the interconnector a reality as soon as possible – said Bozinovska.

As part of the visit of the North Macedonian delegation to Belgrade, a meeting of the working group for the Serbia-North Macedonia gas interconnection project was also held, at which it was agreed that the delegations would meet regularly every few months in order to monitor the dynamics of the project.

Ministarstvo rudarstva i energetike Republike Srbije

Ministry of Mining and Energy

Ministry of Energy Mining and Mineral Resources of North Macedonia

Dubravka Đedović Handanović

Sanja Božinovska

gas interconnection between Serbia and North Macedonia

gas interconnection between Serbia and Bulgaria

gas interconnection between Serbia and Romania