Macedonia has launched a tender process to develop a secondary and tertiary gas pipeline through a public-private partnership (PPP).
The project entails an overall investment of €150 million (US$158 million). It will encompass 17 municipalities in the Skopje region, 36 municipalities in the East region and 26 municipalities in the West region.
Vice Premier Vladimir Pesevski believes that the tender would attract interest and increase competition, eventually benefiting companies, the country and the end users.
Regarding the primary gas distribution system, the Klecovce-Stip gas pipeline has been completed, while construction of sections Stip-Negotino, Negotino-Bitola and Skopje-Tetovo-Gostivar is ongoing. Additional 13 sections and 8 forks for industrial zones will be built soon.
The total investment in the primary network currently amounts to about €350 million (US$370 million) and is expected to be completed by 2020.