Plans for a new gas pipeline connecting Serbia and North Macedonia are moving forward with a defined timeline, as permitting is expected to conclude by mid-2026, followed immediately by construction. The update came after talks between Serbian Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Đedović and her North Macedonian counterpart Sanja Božinovska.
Serbia’s energy strategy has increasingly focused on opening multiple supply corridors following the completion of its gas interconnector with Bulgaria. In this context, the pipeline toward North Macedonia has been identified as a key next step. Both sides aligned their schedules with the goal of finalizing the project by the end of 2027, allowing gas flows to commence in early 2028.
On the Serbian side, the project involves roughly 144 kilometers of new pipeline infrastructure, with a total investment estimated at around 153 million euros. Part of the construction funding has already been allocated in Serbia’s 2026 state budget. The interconnector is designed with an annual transmission capacity of approximately 1.5 billion cubic meters of natural gas, following a route through Orljane, Leskovac, and Vranje before reaching the border with North Macedonia.
Minister Đedovic emphasized that Serbia’s gas diversification efforts are progressing on multiple fronts. The existing interconnection with Bulgaria has a capacity of 1.8 billion cubic meters per year, while a future link with Romania is expected to add between 1.6 and 2.5 billion cubic meters. Collectively, these projects aim to secure a fully diversified gas supply structure for Serbia within the next few years.
The discussions also covered oil product logistics, with both sides exploring options to meet part of southern Serbia’s fuel demand via North Macedonia, including the use of road and rail transport links to enhance supply flexibility.
