HELLENiQ ENERGY revitalizes VARDAX pipeline for Balkan energy security

HELLENiQ ENERGY is revitalizing the VARDAX pipeline, a 213 km cross-border energy infrastructure project designed to strengthen energy security in Southeast Europe. Following a 13-year period of inactivity, the pipeline is set to resume full operations by early 2026, connecting the Thessaloniki Industrial Installations in Greece to the OKTA facility in North Macedonia.

The project involved a €30 million investment to modernize automation, telemetry, and leak detection systems. While originally designed for crude oil, the pipeline now transports diesel, providing a direct route to the Western Balkans and reducing reliance on road transport. In the first eight months of the year, nearly 400 million liters of diesel were moved through the infrastructure.

According to HELLENiQ ENERGY CEO Andreas Siamisi, the VARDAX pipeline has the capacity to meet approximately 80% of North Macedonia's needs, while also serving markets in Kosovo and Serbia. The project positions Thessaloniki as a critical energy hub for the region.