Skopje, 31 October 2022 (MIA) – North Macedonia will be able to secure gas from multiple sources through Bulgaria. This was made possible after an intersystem connection agreement for gas supply and distribution at the Kyustendil – Zhidilovo interconnection point, was signed Monday by GA-MA and Bulgartransgaz. The agreement was signed by the Executive Director of GA-MA, Aleksandar Arsic, and the Executive Director of Bulgartransgaz, Vladimir Malinov. The signing ceremony was also attended by the Executive Director of National Energy Resources – Skopje, Bajram Rexherpi. “This signing of this agreement is very significant because it opens up the possibility of increasing the current capacity of the gas pipeline with Bulgaria, as well as, of freeing up the additional capacities for use by multiple suppliers and for the diversification of our sources. Additionally, it enables us to use all of the sources currently present on the Bulgarian natural gas market,” said Minister of Economy, Kreshnik Bekteshi at the signing of the agreement in Sofia. The interconnection agreement between GA-MA and Bulgartransgaz specifies the conditions, operational procedures and provisions concerning the delivery of natural gas to the Kyustendil – Zhidilovo interconnection point at the Macedonian-Bulgarian border, in order to facilitate efficient interoperability on the interconnected distribution network. The agreement specifically regulates the increase of pressure at the compressor station. The technical capacity at the point of delivery will be 3.044.000 standard cubic meters, which means that the technical capacity will increase by 500.000 standard cubic meters, with the possibility of freeing up additional unused current capacities. It also changes the methodology for calculating gas quantity and the method determining the quality of gas, its analysis and regular inspection, i.e., the measurement of energy will be calculated in kilowatt hours (kWh) instead of the current standard cubic meters at a reference temperature of 20℃ (nm3). The range of permitted gas composition is being increased, which will enable the import of gas from various sources. The minimum/maximum allowed values of gas composition are equal to those of neighboring Greece and Bulgaria, where it is also possible to import gas from alternative sources. The start time of the Gas Day will be 06:00 pm instead of the current 08:00 pm, due to EU norms. The agreement will enter into force on January 1, 2023. The period until the beginning of its implementation will be used as a test period between the two operators, during which all work procedures will have to be worked out. In the meantime, new contracts with suppliers and consumers are expected to be signed, and new work rules adopted. ad/nn/