Serbia is preparing construction of a new natural-gas interconnector with North Macedonia, adding another southern import route for gas entering Southeast Europe via Greece. The Serbian segment is planned to run for around 145 kilometres and is expected to cost about €153 million. The project is supported by an implementation agreement signed on Aug. 27, 2026.
Pipeline specifications and early works
The pipeline is designed for annual capacity of 1.5 billion cubic metres. It is intended to provide access to additional supply routes and increase the potential role of LNG and other non-traditional sources entering the Balkans from the south. The first pipes have already been delivered, with initial works planned near Vranjska Banja.
Construction is expected to start with a roughly five-kilometre section. Serbia expects enough pipes for about 15 kilometres of the route to be delivered by the end of October. The planned corridor will pass through Orljane, Leskovac and Vranje before reaching the North Macedonian border.
Timelines and regional interconnector linkages
Serbia targets completion of its section in the first quarter of 2028, subject to remaining administrative procedures being completed on schedule, including land expropriation. North Macedonia expects its part of the link to be finished around the middle or second half of 2028. The two national timelines are therefore aligned within the 2028 window.
The interconnector project is linked with the Greece–North Macedonia interconnector, which is expected to enter service in 2027. Together, the pipelines are intended to create a more continuous north-south supply corridor connecting Serbia with Greek gas infrastructure. The development also supports broader work on the regional Vertical Gas Corridor.
Diversification and import corridor optionality
For Serbia, the main stated value of the new route is diversification. The project would not remove existing supply relationships, but it would increase physical optionality between import corridors. It is also described as creating additional competition across southern supply options for gas entering Serbia.
