Athens, 14 March 2023 (MIA) – North Macedonia's NER and Greece's DESFA have intensified contacts over the past period in order to coordinate activities in launching construction works for the natural gas interconnector between the two countries, Greek daily Ta nea reports, citing its sources. 

In addition, last week in Skopje a meeting was held between representatives of the two companies, and the project is at an advanced stage of licensing with the investment decision expected.  

"According to available information, DESFA will make an appropriate investment decision on the part of the project that refers to Greek territory by the beginning of September," Ta nea reports.

At the end of OIctober last year, Greek Minister of Environment and Energy Kostas Skrekas said market testing for the gas pipeline with North Macedonia has been completed, which is estimated to be finalized by mid-2025 and it is a system that will be 100 percent ready for hydrogen transport. 

The North Macedonia-Greece natural gas interconnector is planned to have a total length of 123 km and will extend from Nea Mesimvria to Negotino via Evzoni/Gevgelija, connecting the national natural gas transmission systems of Greece and North Macedonia, operated by DESFA and NER respectively. 

Its initial capacity will be 1.5 billion cubic meters per year, with the possibility of expanding to 3 billion cubic meters per year, while studies have been carried out for the pipeline to adopt the appropriate requirements for the transport of green hydrogen.

In October 2016, North Macedonia's National Energy Resources (NER) and Greece's National Natural Gas System Operator (DESFA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding. 

Less than five years later, the two countries signed a relevant bilateral agreement, and in October 2021 DESFA's CEO and NER's Executive Director signed a Cooperation Agreement for the development and construction of the Greece-North Macedonia Gas Interconnector.