Belgrade, 19 April 2023 (MIA) - In parallel with the implementation of Serbia-Bulgaria gas interconnector project, Serbian authorities started the preparation of spatial and technical documentation for construction of gas interconnection between Serbia and North Macedonia, MIA’s Belgrade correspondent reported.

Serbian Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Djedović referring to the Serbia-Bulgaria gas interconnection, noted that the construction of the gas interconnection is of strategic importance for the Serbian energy sector.

“The construction of the Serbia-Bulgaria gas interconnection is also of regional importance, which is why we have strong financial support from the EU for this project. In parallel with the implementation of this project, we started the preparation of spatial and technical documentation for another important project for the gas diversification of Serbia, which is the construction gas interconnections between Serbia and North Macedonia,” Djedović said.

This project is necessary to enable Serbia to diversify gas supplies, and back in November 2021, the Minister of Economy Kreshnik Bekteshi and the then Serbian Minister of Mining and Energy Zorana Mihajlović agreed to set up a working group for the construction of a gas interconnection between the two countries, which will be managed by representatives of the respective ministries.

Director of Srbijagas Dušan Bajatović has repeatedly emphasized the importance of the construction of the Serbia-North Macedonia interconnector.

“We also have to build the interconnector to North Macedonia, which is backed by the EU. Our idea is to gasify Leskovac as well. Two huge factories should be built in Vranje,” Bajatović said.

By building a gas interconnection with North Macedonia, Serbia will be able to connect to the Southern Gas Corridor.
On 31 March, the governments of Serbia and North Macedonia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on closer cooperation in the field of mining and energy.

“Everything has practically been agreed for Serbia to join the gas pipeline that is being built from Greece to North Macedonia. The capacity of the pipeline will be at the highest level since we want to secure a capacity with which Serbia could immediately connect to the interconnector,” said Prime Minister Kovachevski on March 31 at a joint press conference with Serbian counterpart Brnabić in Belgrade. PM Kovachevski said that this will provide an additional source of gas for Serbia.

The Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans, adopted by the European Commission, sets out a substantial investment package mobilising up to €9 billion of funding for the region.

The Plan identifies ten investment flagships to support major road and railway connections in the region, renewable energy and the transition from coal, renovation of public and private buildings to increase the energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, waste and waste water management infrastructure, as well as the roll out of broadband infrastructure.

Photo: MIA Archive