Construction works on the 92 kilometers long major gas pipeline between Negotino and Bitola via Kavadarci and Prilep are progressing according to plans. The estimated value of the investment amounts to 37 million euros and it is expected that the gas pipeline will be put into operation in mid- 2019 at the latest.
By the end of 2017, gas will reach Kavadarci, while the section to Prilep will be completed in fall 2018. VMRO-DPMNE leader and former Prime Minister of Macedonia Nikola Gruevski stressed that this strategic project is important for the future for both the country and the companies and would play a key role in the protection of environment.
The project for the gasification of Macedonia is progressing as well. About 60 % of the Stip-Negotino gas pipeline is completed, while the rest should be completed by the end of 2017. Gas pipeline Klecovce-Stip has already been completed last year, while the construction of Gostivar-TetovoSkopje gas pipeline is currently ongoing, thus the first phase of Macedonia’s gasification in nearing completion. According to Krste Miladinov, head of Macedonian Energy Resources (MER), it is planned to encompass about 70 % of gas consumers.
In early March, calls for the construction of secondary and tertiary gas pipelines through publicprivate partnership have been published in the Macedonian newspapers as well as the EU’s public procurement database. This starts the process of secondary and tertiary gas distribution in Macedonia, which is expected to cost around 150 million euros. It will include 17 municipalities in the Skopje region, 36 municipalities in eastern Macedonia and 26 municipalities in western Macedonia.
