Works on the interconnection on the territory of North Macedonia started more than two years ago. Albania currently has 400 kV connections with Kosovo and Montenegro.
The start of the implementation of the Albanian part of the project for the construction of 400 kV transmission line between Albania and North Macedonia, worth 70 million euros, is expected soon.
Albanian electricity transmission system operator OST said that it has already prepared most of the documentation, including the environmental impact assessment (EIA) study. It also selected the contractor for the project, following the conclusion of a public tender launched in 2019, a joint venture of Mitas Energy and Metal Construction Inc.
The project was supported by German KfW Bank, as part of the European Commission’s initiative to establish an East-West electricity transmission corridor between Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro and Italy. The first lot relates to the construction of 400 kV Fier-Elbasan-Qafe Thane transmission line. Fier-Elbasan section is 74 kilometers long, while Elbasan-Wafe Thane section has 56 kilometers in length. The second lot envisages the construction of a new Elbasan 3 transformer station, as well as the expansion and modernization of existing Fier transformer station.
After the commissioning of the new transmission lines, Elbasan and Fier will be part of the regional 400 kV network, the so-called Corridor 8. The operational life of this project will be 50 years.
