Greek natural gas transmission system operator DESFA said that a market test for gas interconnection with North Macedonia will be
launched in March, following the completion of the related public consultation procedure in early February.
In late 2021, DESFA signed a 25 million euros loan agreement with the European Investment Bank (EIB) for the construction of Greek section of the pipeline.
The Greek section, budgeted at 67 million euros, is planned to run from Nea Mesimvria, on the western outskirts of Thessaloniki, to the Evzoni area on the northern border with North Macedonia.
The EIB also approved 28.9 million euros loan agreement for the Macedonian section of the pipeline, in addition to 12.4 million euros loan
from the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF).
Overall cost of Greece-North Macedonia gas interconnection, a 123 kilometers long pipeline, is estimated to 110 million euros.
