Photo: Ministry of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources of North Macedonia
Energy interconnections and modern power grids in the Western Balkans are not only part of the green transition but also crucial to the region’s energy security, economic competitiveness, and integration into the European energy market, according to Minister of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources of North Macedonia Sanja Božinovska.
Stronger electricity interconnections and smart grids are essential as they ensure system stability, enable greater electricity exchange, and create conditions for greater integration of renewable sources, Božinovska said at a high-level event in Thessaloniki, Greece, held to officially launch the Electricity, Digital and Regional Interconnectivity in South East Europe project.
The project, implemented by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), aims to promote electricity connectivity, digitalization, and regional cooperation in South East Europe, according to a statement from the Ministry of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources of North Macedonia.
In her address, Božinovska emphasized that North Macedonia is actively working on several key projects for interconnections with electricity systems in the region.
North Macedonia is working on several key power interconnections
Construction works on the North Macedonian side for the Bitola-Elbasan interconnection with Albania are expected to begin in March, with a completion deadline of about 30 months, according to her.
At the same time, the country is actively working to strengthen the East-West electricity corridor in the Western Balkans, which will connect North Macedonia with Kosovo*, she noted.
Božinovska also said that work is underway to upgrade the existing Bitola-Meliti interconnection with Greece, with technical support provided by the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF), as well as on a new interconnection with Bulgaria, between Strumica and Sandanski, which is part of the broader regional connectivity infrastructure.
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