North Macedonia–Greece Interconnector Gas Pipeline

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North Macedonia–Greece Interconnector Gas Pipeline is a proposed network of gas pipeline interconnections in Greece and North Macedonia.

Location

The interconnector will run near the Nea Messimvria compressor station to the customs station of Evzoni in Greece, then to Gevgelija and Negotino in North Macedonia.

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Pipeline Details

Nea-Messimvria-Evzoni/Gevgelija

• Operator: DESFA S.A.
• Owner: DESFA S.A.
• Parent Company: Government of Greece [34%]; Snam [36%]; Enagas [12%]; Copelouzos Group [6%]; Fluxys [12%]
• Capacity: 1.5 billion cubic meters/year (bcm/y), with the possibility of expanding to 3 bcm/y
  • Formerly 2.81 billion cubic meters/year
• Length: 56 km / 34.8 miles
• Diameter: 750 mm / 29.5 inches
• Cost: €70 million (US$80 million) (entire project, estimate)
• Financing: €25 million loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB) for the Greek section of the Interconnector
• Status: Proposed
• Start Year: 2025
• ENTSOG 2022 TYNDP: TRA-A-967
• WBIF: PRJ-MKD-ENE-011

Gevgelija-Negotino

• Operator: MER JSC Skopje
• Owner: MER JSC Skopje
• Parent Company: MER JSC Skopje
• Capacity: 1.5 billion cubic meters/year (bcm/y), with the possibility of expanding to 3 bcm/y
  • Formerly 2.81 billion cubic meters/year
• Length: 70 km / 43.5 miles
• Diameter: 750 mm / 29.5 inches
• Cost: €70 million (US$80 million) (entire project, estimate)
• Financing: €27 million loan from the EIB for the North Macedonian section
• Status: Proposed
• Start Year: 2024
• ENTSOG 2022 TYNDP: TRA-N-980
• WBIF: PRJ-MKD-ENE-011

Background

The North Macedonia section of the project is referred to by ENTSOG as "Interconnection North Macedonia-Greece (North Macedonian part)" and by its project code: "TRA-A-980". ENTSOG describes this section of the project's purpose as to " ensure supply of additional quantities of natural gas from Greece and other sources that will be available through Greece, direct connection to the existing LNG Terminal Revithoussa and possibly transit of additional quantities of natural gas intended for UNMIK and/or Serbia." DESFA has requested approximately €17 million in grants from the European Union for the project's construction. As of late 2020, the funding decision was pending.

The Greek section of the project is is referred to by ENTSOG as "Nea-Messimvria to Evzoni/Gevgelija pipeline (IGNM)" and by its project code: TRA-A-967. ENTSOG describes this section of the project as "a pipeline from Nea-Messimvria to the GR/MK border allowing the supply of North Macedonia by the Greek Gas Transmission System."

In May 2020, the European Investment Bank approved a €25 million loan for financing the construction of the 55 kilometre long Greek section of the Interconnector. At the same time the EIB approved a €27 million loan for financing the construction of the North Macedonian section. The project has also received grants of €1 million from the EU's technical assistance fund CONNECTA and €12.425 million from the Western Balkan Investment Framework. The Western Balkans Investment Framework contributed a €12 million grant.

A "Benefit Analysis, Environmental and Social Impact Assessment and Basic (detailed) Design" document, dated February 2021, includes a "Time plan for the Project phases" which states that construction is expected to take place between 2021 and 2023. The latter year is also the stated start of operation.

As of September 2021, Energy Community states that the design studies for the North Macedonia (Negotino-Gevgelija) part of the pipeline are not yet complete. According to Energy Community, "mechanical completion [is] planned for May 2024" and commissioning is planned for that same year.

In March, 2023, the bidding process for the pipeline was opened, with a contract duration of 39 months. Accordingly, the commissioning of the pipeline is now expected for 2025-26. A memorandum of understanding was signed between the two countries in February, 2023.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development continued, as of February 2024, to consider financing for the project.