North Macedonia’s Government announced that the oil pipeline connecting Thessaloniki and Skopje is expected to return to service before the end of the year, ending more than a decade of inactivity. Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski stated that the pipeline had deteriorated significantly after years without maintenance, but that rehabilitation works are now progressing steadily.
Pressure testing is already underway, with preliminary results suggesting that the system will be ready for full operation within the planned timeframe. The pipeline, which spans roughly 213 kilometers—about one third of it on Greek territory—was originally commissioned in 2002 by Vardax, a company jointly owned by Helleniq Energy (80 %) and the state of North Macedonia (20 %).
The line was designed to deliver crude oil from the Thessaloniki refinery to the OKTA refinery in Skopje, which has since ceased operations. The pipeline was taken offline in 2013 amid declining throughput and financial constraints. Since then, North Macedonia has depended heavily on imports from Greece, sourcing around 85 % of its petroleum products through alternative routes.
Reactivating the Thessaloniki–Skopje pipeline is expected to improve supply security, reduce logistical risks, and provide the country with a more stable and diversified oil supply pathway.
