Macedonia Gas System

The gas system of the Republic of Macedonia has a total length of 165 km and is part of the pan European transport corridor 8. The national gas mains spread 100 km into the Macedonian territory and are supported seven measuring and measuring-regulation stations. The pipeline capacity stands at some 800 million cu m per year.

Projects for the development of the national gas network have been cancelled or neglected over an ownership dispute between the government and local oil monopoly Makpetrol AD. At end-2009 the Macedonian Ministry of Transport and Communications announced the priority gas routes - Klecovce-Bitola and Skopje-Tetovo-Gostivar. The total value of the planned routes will exceed EUR 150 mln. The gas mains in Macedonia, part of the transit pipeline from Russia, are the only connection of the country with other gas networks. Macedonia envisages gas links with Albania, Kosovo, Serbia and Greece.

The natural gas has a 5% share in the energy mix of Macedonia. Local consumers depend on the import of Russian gas, for the country has no domestic production. In 2008 Macedonia’s gas imports totalled 120.51 million cu m, while local consumption stood at 119.61 million cu m, up 13.5% on the year.