Five investors have submitted bids for a tender issued by North Macedonia's state-owned natural gas transmission company, Nomagas, to construct the country’s segment of a natural gas interconnector with Greece. The project is estimated at €83.7 million ($87.8 million), according to local media reports.
The tender attracted offers from two Italian companies, one Turkish firm, one Serbian company, and a domestic investor, as reported by Vecer news agency, citing a statement from Nomagas.
Timeline and Project Details
Nomagas aims to select the winning bidder by the end of 2024, with construction expected to commence in spring. The tender was reopened in October 2024, nearly a year after the initial process in November 2023. Although five bids were received in the first round, the tendering procedure was restarted due to a technical issue, as reported by local news platform Faktor.
The project involves the construction of a 67-kilometer pipeline and associated facilities. According to tender documents, the pipeline is expected to be completed within 34 months of signing the contract.
Funding and Regional Significance
The project is financed through loans from the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), supplemented by an investment grant provided by the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF).
The interconnector is seen as a critical step toward enhancing energy security and diversification in the region, improving natural gas connectivity between North Macedonia and Greece while contributing to the broader European energy network.