Bitola, 17 February 2022 (MIA) – The transmission line from Bitola to the Macedonian-Albanian border, an investment of EUR 17.2 million, has regional strategic and capital value that enables connection of the power transmission systems of North Macedonia and Albania, Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski told Thursday’s cornerstone-laying ceremony in Bitola. According to PM Kovachevski, the new energy connection wraps up the process of connecting the power transmission systems of all neighboring countries. “Our country has a key role in regional energy connection, and therefore this investment is of huge importance both for us and for the entire region. This project positions North Macedonia as a Balkan crossroad for electricity distribution. The interconnection transmission line Bitola-Elbasan is essentially realization of Corridor 8, and is a key link in the transit of electricity from Bulgaria through North Macedonia and Albania top Italy,” said Kovachevski. Kovachevski, addressing visitors from the country and abroad, as well as representatives from the region’s energy sector, pointed out that with this project, as a Corridor 8 project, North Macedonia meets the high European technological standards for electricity transmission. “The project opens broad economic prospects, and building good neighborly relations is equally important. Also in this direction is the ‘Open Balkan’ initiative, whose principal aim is to promote relations between the countries in the region. In building such relations with the neighbors and investing in capital projects in the electricity network, we are connecting our economies, we’re all becoming stronger and more competitive, and more importantly, even more prepared for further development. “Implementing this major project, we’re sending a clear message to all investors that we are strengthening the electricity transmission network and creating a good ambience for those who want to use the economic potential and invest in our country. This means new jobs, and thus overall economic prosperity,” PM Kovachevski stressed. The project is implemented with the support of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the EU Delegation to North Macedonia, and the contractor is the Bosnian engineering company Energoinvest. MEPSO General Director Orhan Murtezani, Deputy Head of EU Delegation to North Macedonia Julian Vassallo, EBRD Head of North Macedonia Andi Aranitasi also addressed Thursday’s cornerstone-laying ceremony for the new 400 kV transmission line from Bitola to the Macedonian-Albanian border, pointing out that the project is in line with European goals on the construction of an efficient energy infrastructure for a climate-neutral Europe by 2050.