Skopje, 2 April 2026 (MIA) - Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, who attended Thursday a cornerstone laying ceremony for a 400 kV transmission line from Transmission Substation (TS) “Bitola 2” to the Kjafasan border crossing on the Macedonian-Albanian border, said the project marks the first time that the country is fully connected to all neighboring power systems, which brings more security for citizens, more stability for the economy and more opportunities for development. 

He pointed out that Thursday's event is not just about an infrastructure project, but about something much bigger, i.e. about connectivity, stability and the country's future in the European energy family.

"The Bitola-Elbasan interconnector is not an ordinary transmission line. It is a symbol of a closed gap that has stood as an obstacle on our path for years. Corridor VIII, which should be an artery of the economy, has had an interruption in its energy network for a long time. Today, with this project, that gap is finally closing," said Mickoski.

He stressed that the construction of the 400 kV transmission line, about 100 km long, is establishing the last missing energy link with the neighboring countries.

"For the first time, my country becomes fully connected to all neighboring power systems. This brings more security for citizens, more stability for the economy and more opportunities for development. There are no isolated systems in energy. There are no closed circles. Each system breathes together with the other systems. That is why this interconnection is not just a national project - it is part of the European energy network. It means balance, security and the ability to integrate new energy sources, with a special focus on renewables, which are the future," Mickoski said.

The PM noted that this project has been one of the most complex projects the Government had faced. 

"The loan was secured back in 2015. The contract signed in 2020. But implementation was almost non-existent. Instead of construction activities, years were spent in negotiations, delays and attempts to change prices. Only part of the equipment was purchased, without substantial progress on the ground. And here comes the essential difference. We did not let this project remain another missed opportunity. We made a brave but necessary decision - to terminate the contract that was not giving results. A decision made after a thorough analysis, including forensic support, international consultants and coordination with the EBRD. We protected the country. We preserved the investment. More than half of the already purchased equipment remains in our ownership and will be used. We did not allow a single day to be wasted, not a single euro, denar to be misspent. Then came the most difficult part - restarting a project that had been at a standstill for years. We faced legal, technical and organizational challenges. Including property and legal issues. Including the need to comply with international standards and FIDIC rules. Including the obligation to bring the project back to life without losing the resources already invested. And we made it," Mickoski stressed.

He noted that a new contractor has been selected in a transparent procedure through the EBRD system, in accordance with the highest European standards, as a guarantee that this time things will move forward and will not stand still.

"This project has been saved today. Restarted. Placed on sound foundations. But, more importantly, this project is a message. A message that two countries can cooperate, a message that my country knows how to make difficult decisions. A message that it knows how to correct mistakes from the past. A message that it knows how to build a future. With this transmission line, we are not only building an energy connection. We are building trust, among investors, among partners, among citizens. We are building a position of a stable and reliable partner in Europe. And that is why, today, when we talk about Bitola-Elbasan, we are not just talking about cables and poles. We are talking about energy that drives the economy. We are talking about stability that protects  citizens. We are talking about a future we are building together. The time is coming when Macedonia will not be on the periphery of energy flows, but at their center. And that time begins now," Mickoski concluded.

Energy Minister Sanja Bozhinovska, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation in the country Ben Nupnau, EBRD country head Fatih Türkmenoğlu, Albania's Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Enea Karakaçi, and Macedonian Electricity Transmission System Operator (MEPSO) Director-General Burim Ljatifi also addressed the event. 

Photo: print screen