Alexandroupolis, 3 May 2022 (MIA) – Construction of the liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Alexandroupolis is a historic event for regional countries, a project for long-term energy independence, stable and continued gas supply amid a crisis, Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski told an event launching the construction of the floating LNG terminal, MIA reports from Athens. PM Kovachevski said the LNG terminal is of enormous significance for the region from the aspect of gas diversification and security in supply. “The southern gas corridor reduces the dependency from the, until now, only gas supply route from Russia,” said Kovachevski and added that the United States, the Middle East and other countries would also serve as suppliers. “This means safe and secure gas quantities from various suppliers and diversification of sources, thus making our country energy-independent,” he added. A gas-fired power plant is the second stage of the Alexandroupolis project, ensuring capacities for electricity supply. “North Macedonia is reserving LNG capacities in the Alexandroupoolis terminal and there are ongoing preparations for our direct involvement in the construction of a gas pipeline that would link up North Macedonia with this significant energy capacity. The interconnector with Greece will bring gas to citizens and businesses in North Macedonia,” said Kovachevski. According to him, the realization of the project opened potentials for investments in other energy facilities and improvement of the region’s competitiveness. North Macedonia has a 10-percent stake in the LNG terminal and 25-percent stake in the gas-fired power plant. PM Kovachevski took part at the event alongside Greek and Bulgarian counterparts, Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Kiril Petkov, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and European Council President Charles Michel. Greek PM Mitsotakis said the attendance of the Balkan leaders at the event represented the region’s unity but also that “our peninsula can have its place in the strategy for energy transition of the entire continent”. Referring to the presence of Council President, Mitsotakis said “it symbolizes the European dimension of this project that has an important geopolitical imprint”. Michel said the new terminal would not only help the energy independence aspect but also contribute to the long-term goals on climate change, sending a clear message that “we take destiny in our own hands”. “We are not sitting and talking about strategic autonomy but want to build our common future with our Balkan friends,” said Michel. Bulgarian PM Petkov said countries need to work together, adding that Kremlin’s economic pressure on Bulgaria and the EU will not succeed, while Serbian President Vucic referred to the need for mutual cooperation and added that regional countries would manage to overcome all difficulties with EU’s support. The LNG terminal in Alexandroupolis is planned to comprise an LNG floating storage and regasification unit, which will be a new, independent energy gateway for the markets of Southeastern and Central Europe. The station will have an LNG storage capacity of 170,000 cubic meters and a natural gas supply capacity that will exceed 5.5 billion cubic meters per year.