The energy sector in North Macedonia relies predominantly on fossil fuels (lignite and natural gas) and hydropower and depends on electricity imports. Natural gas is imported from Russia through a single-entry point at the border with Bulgaria. The gas is mainly used by industrial consumers and three combined heat and power plants, while households have an almost negligible share in total consumption due to limited distribution networks.
This investment concerns the construction of 16 km of gas pipeline, from the Skopje - Kičevo pipeline at the village of Upper Matka (17 km west of Skopje) to the border with Kosovo*. The interconnection has a total length of approximately 86 km: 16 km in North Macedonia and 70 km in Kosovo.
WBIF has provided a technical assistance grant for the preparation of the feasibility study and environmental and social impact assessment for the gas interconnection. The investments are developed under Flagship 5 - Transition from coal of the Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans.
* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.
