AD MEPSO has started the construction of the new 400 kV intersection transmission line, which will connect the Republic of North Macedonia with the Republic of Albania. With the realization of this capital project, the country is positioned as a crossroad for transmission of electrical energy from Bulgaria, through North Macedonia, through Albania, all the way to Italy, thus providing the final missing link to establish an East - West electricity transmission corridor.
Today at this location we lay the cornerstone for the new 400 kV transmission line, which starts exactly from here, from the substation “Bitola 2”, and goes all the way to the Macedonia-Albania border. The construction of the 400 kV interconnection is one of the largest and most significant projects in the history of our Company and beyond in the region, because with it we complete the energy connection with all our neighbours, stated the General Director of AD MEPSO, Orhan Murtezani, at the ceremony, held on this occasion at substation “Bitola 2”.
The investment amounts to 17, 22 million euros, 5 million of which will be covered with an investment grant from the WBIF and 12, 2 million euros are a loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The Investment in projects of such nature is a step forward to an energy transformation and energy reliability in the country, as well as the region, stated the representatives from the EU and EBRD.
The EU supports this important energy project, especially now when we are facing the greatest energy crisis and are still recovering from the impact of the pandemics.
These times are a good reminder that we must continue investing in the energy modernization and that way to get closer to the priorities set in our green agenda, stated Julian Vassalo, Deputy Head of EU Delegation to North Macedonia.
The interconnection overhead transmission line will have an important role in facilitating the development of the regional energy market and supporting the scaling up and integration of the renewable energy sources (RES), with solar and wind being the two priority renewable sources to be developed in North Macedonia and Albania in the short and medium term, also building on the support EBRD has provided to the authorities in both countries to launch competitive tenders for RES, stated Andi Aranitasi, representative from EBRD in North Macedonia.
Saluting the beginning of the works of the new interconnection transmission line, as part of the project which encompasses the construction of the 400/110 kV substation near Ohrid as well, which started in august of last year, the Prime Minister, Dimitar Kovachevski, said that with the realization of the interconnection Bitola – Elbasan, not only the power grid is strengthened, but also a message is sent to the investors for a favourable environment for investing in our country.
These kind of projects will provide our country with not only energy transition, but also benefits for many years and future generations working and living here. The project has wide economic potential and equally important is the maintaining of friendly neighbourly relations. By building such connections with our neighbours and investing in capital projects in the power grid, we connect our economies, we all become stronger and more competitive, and most importantly even more ready for further development, stated Prime Minister Kovachevski.
The length of the interconnection, which will start from SS “Bitola 2” to the Macedonia-Albania border, is 97 kilometers and will be placed upon 269 steel-lattice towers. The Contractor is the company Energoinvest from Sarajevo, BiH, and the construction will be supervised by the local partner VEVE Group, member of a consultant Joint Venture.