North Macedonia seeks to become a Balkan energy hub

North Macedonia is working to establish itself as a regional energy hub in the Balkans by leveraging its strategic location along European Corridors 8 and 10. According to VMRO-DPMNE, the government aims to integrate the country into regional energy flows through significant electricity and gas infrastructure projects.

In the electricity sector, the Bitola–Elbasan interconnection project is being developed to link North Macedonia with Albania, complementing existing connections with Bulgaria, Serbia, Kosovo, and Greece. This is intended to enhance regional connectivity and ensure stable electricity transmission.

Regarding natural gas, a €60 million interconnector with Greece is in its final stages. This bidirectional link has an initial capacity of 1.5 billion cubic meters per year, with the potential to expand to 3 billion. This project aims to increase supply security and market competition. The next phase involves a northern interconnector to Serbia, which would allow North Macedonia to serve as a transit country for gas traveling from southern terminals, such as Alexandroupolis, toward Central Europe.