Skopje, 22 March 2026 (MIA) -  Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Aleksandar Nikoloski said Sunday the construction of the Otinja dam, of which 70 percent has been completed so far, brings the first recreational reservoir to the eastern part of the country, slated to launch as a tourist spot by spring 2028. 

Nikoloski, who oversaw construction works for the dam on Sunday, stressed that there are sufficient funds in the Budget for the project, noting that of the Mden 488 million provided, Mden 311 million have been realized.

"Otinja dam construction is currently 70 percent complete, and the deadline is April 2027. But, if weather conditions allow, if we have a dry construction season, we can finish the reservoir lake construction this year. Then it will take a year to fill it, which means somewhere in the spring of 2028 we will see a lake here that will truly be an attraction and a huge deal," said Nikoloski. 

This reservoir lake, he pointed out, will boost the development of tourism and the entire local economy. Similar to Mavrovo Lake, it should develop the entire region and represent a major tourist spot during the summer for the residents of the eastern part of the country, but also be used throughout the year for recreation, for the development of tourism, for people to visit, and of course open new jobs. The lake will also serve for irrigation and, if necessary, in certain critical times, to resolve issues of water supply, Nikoloski noted.

He added that he had also discussed landscaping the area around the lake together with the Mayor of Shtip, Ivan Jordanov, in order to use the dam's body as a path from one end of the lake to the other and connect it to Shtip.

Photo: MIA