BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb.4
By Leman Zeynalova – Trend:
One of the goals of the Southern Gas Corridor was to diversify natural gas supply routes and reduce dependency from only one source of natural gas, North Macedonia’s Minister of Economy Kreshnik Bekteshi said in an exclusive interview with Trend.
He pointed out that with this project the Europe and the region has improved the security of supply bringing natural gas from different sources. In long term the project will strengthen the relations in the energy sector between the Parties and the European Union.
“Government of the Republic of North Macedonia is committed to develop more broaden strategy to get natural gas from variety routes and connection to the international gas corridor. Activities are underway for further construction of the existing gas pipeline system in the Republic of North Macedonia, its connection with the regional gas pipeline systems, especially with the southern corridor, the development of the gas distribution to be done through Public Private Partnership, as well as starting negotiations for providing additional quantities of natural gas,” added Bekteshi.
The minister recalled that at the last Ministerial Meeting of the Energy Community, the gas interconnection between North Macedonia and Greece was selected as a Project of Common Interest for 2020.
“It aims at gas connection of the country with Greece and the Southern Gas Corridor in order to supply the country with natural gas from diversified sources of supply and, inter alia, from the gas fields in Azerbaijan. Sides: NER AD Skopje and DESFA SA - The operator of the natural gas transmission system in Greece; - Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, October 2016 (Annex to the Memorandum, April 2019); Environmental Impact Assessment Study has been prepared and all procedures related to it have been completed. We expect to receive a Decision by the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning of the Republic of North Macedonia; the basic design is in the final phase. The design is submitted to the Ministry of transport and communication for approval,” North Macedonia’s economy minister explained.
Regarding the financing of the construction, the minister said in December 2021, the Finance Agreement and the Grant Agreement were signed with the European Investment Bank, which covers 70 percent of the Project. In 2022, a financing agreement will be signed with the EBRD for the remaining amount needed to build the entire project.
“During 2022, the tender documentation for Construction, Construction Supervision, Inspection Body and Management will be prepared in accordance with the EIB rules. It is planned that the contractors of the construction will be selected by the end of 2022,” he added.
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