Energoinvest, Končar to construct first N. Macedonia-Albania power line, new substation

North Macedonia’s transmission system operator (TSO) MEPSO has signed deals for a new 400 kV line to connect the country with Albania, a new 400/100 kV substation near Ohrid and an extension of Bitola 2 substation. Contracts worth EUR 35 million were awarded to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Energoinvest and Croatia’s Končar.

The new line will be the first power link between North Macedonia and Albania. Albania is the only neighboring country with which North Macedonia didn’t have this kind of connection.

Funds are secured by loans and grants approved by the EBRD and Western Balkans Investment Fund

The funds are secured by loans and grants approved by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and Western Balkans Investment Fund (WBIF).

The Bitola-Elbasan power line will be constructed by Energoinvest

New transmission line Bitola-Elbasan from the Bitola 2 substation to the North Macedonian–Albanian border will be installed by Energoinvest. The contract is worth EUR 17.2 million, local media reported.

Končar will be responsible for the new substation near Ohrid and the extension of the Bitola 2 substation

Croatia’s Končar will be responsible for the planned substation near Ohrid and the extension of the Bitola 2 substation, an investment worth EUR 16.9 million.

The new power line, part of Corridor 8, will enable the transmission of electricity from Bulgaria across North Macedonia to Albania and further to Italy by subsea cable, MEPSO CEO Eva Šukleva said.

According to her, the new substation near Ohrid will enable the capacity for the connection of new consumers, both individuals and businesses.

The future link is the missing part of the electricity corridor between Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, and Italy

Andi Aranitasi, Head of EBRD’s office in North Macedonia, said the future power line is the missing part of the corridor between Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, and Italy.

He added EBRD secured a EUR 37 million loan and a EUR 12 million grant from WBIF for the electricity connection between North Macedonia and Albania.

The corridor will play a significant role in enabling the regional electricity market and the uptake of renewables

The corridor will play a significant role in enabling the regional electricity market and the uptake of renewable energy, especially solar, he said.

The signing ceremony was attended by Prime Minister of North Macedonia Oliver Spasovski, President of Končar Management Board Gordan Kolak and General Manager of Energoinvest Bisera Hadžialjević.