“Today we are laying the cornerstone for the largest and one of the most significant projects in the history of AD MEPSO, but also in the wider region, which I would like to call Via Egnatia Energy” the General Director of AD MEPSO Kushtrim Ramadani with these words has marked the beginning of the construction of the 400/110 kV SS Ohrid, which will be connected with input and output to the new 400 kV interconnection Bitola – Elbasan. Emphasizing the importance of this capital project for the country and the region, Ramadani stated that the realization of this capital infrastructure project completes the electrical interconnection with all our neighbours.
“Today we are opening the doors for the east-west energy connection, which is our greatest strategic goal. This will enable us not only greater security, stability and reliability of our power system, but also involvement in all regional initiatives for energy exchange and participation in the markets of balancing and system services”, said Ramadani in front of the many guests.
Expressing strong support for the efforts of AD MEPSO for modernization of the electric power system and realization of capital infrastructure projects to ensure stable operation of the transmission network, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev on this occasion stated:
“The investment for this project is of great regional importance and amounts to 50 million euros. This is the largest investment in the transmission power network, which according to the projected dynamic is expected to be completed by 2023. The Government of the R. of North Macedonia invests in modern and durable goods that are of great importance for a stable and long-term economic development. The investments in the transmission network are one of our priorities. We build good neighbourly relations and we connect with the sole purpose of greater economic prosperity and a higher standard”.
"The beginning of the works for power connection of R. of North Macedonia and R. of Albania shows that even in a pandemic and economic crisis, the Government and AD MEPSO do not stop with the investments in infrastructure, primarily in the field of electric power engineering and ensuring energy stability", the Minister of Economy Kreshnik Bekteshi pointed out. According to him, the importance and the need for regional cooperation are part of the priorities in the Strategy for electric power engineering, which defines specific measures and projects in terms of cross-border connection. ”This important investment will improve the security of electric energy supply and will provide an additional support to electricity traders to achieve competitive prices”, Bekteshi pointed out.
Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Energy of Albania, Ilir Bejta said that this capital project opens the possibilities for new investments. “It is a great honour for me to be part of this event, the beginning of a new, very important connection of an, in my opinion, “electricity highway” between both countries, which I believe will bring significant positive changes in the economies of both countries” Bejta pointed out.
The project for the interconnection of R. of North Macedonia and R. of Albania is an investment worth 50 million euros, which is financed with a grant of 12 million euros from WBIF, 37 million euros from the EBRD and own funds of AD MEPSO. The project includes several components, among which the most important are the 400 kV transmission line SS Bitola 2 - Albanian border and SS Ohrid, which will have 400 kV input and output, and three outputs at 110 kV level to Ohrid, Struga and Resen. The construction agreement is signed in January 2020 with the Croatian company Končar, which won an international tender. “Despite the difficult conditions caused by the pandemic, we managed to start this big project with only a few weeks delay and we are firmly convinced that we will finish it on time”, the General Director of AD MEPSO Kushtrim Ramadani pointed out.