site.btaNorth Macedonia Begins Construction of Bitola-Elbasan Power Line

North Macedonia's Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski on Thursday launched the construction of a 400 kV power line from North Macedonia's Bitola to Albania's Elbasan, near the border between the two countries. The EUR 20 million project includes the construction of a 97.5 km power line in North Macedonia, supported by 269 steel lattice towers, and a substation near Ohrid, with a completion period of 900 days. 

For the first time, North Macedonia connects fully to all neighboring energy systems, the Prime Minister said. In his words, that means greater security for citizens, greater stability for the economy, and more opportunities for development. "In the energy sector, there are no isolated systems. There are no closed loops. Every system breathes in unison with the others. That is why this interconnection is not just a national project - it is part of the European energy network. It implies balance, security, and the ability to integrate new energy sources, with a special focus on renewable energy sources, which are the future,” said Mickoski, as quoted by the government press service.

According to him, the project is one of the most complex his government has ever faced. The loan was secured in 2015, the agreement was signed in 2020, but the project has not yet been implemented. The current government of North Macedonia has terminated the existing contract and is signing a new one with another contractor for the project “in accordance with the highest European standards,” which “is a guarantee that this time things will move forward and not stall.”

In his words, this project sends the message that North Macedonia and Albania can cooperate and that his country knows how to make difficult decisions, correct past mistakes, and build a future. With this power line, North Macedonia is building not just an energy connection but trust among investors, partners, and citizens, establishing itself as a stable and reliable partner in Europe. "And that is why today, when we talk about Bitola-Elbasan, we are not just talking about cables and poles. We are talking about energy that will drive the economy. We are talking about stability that will protect citizens. We are talking about a future we are building together. The time is coming when [North] Macedonia will no longer be on the periphery of energy flows, but at their centre. And that time begins now,” stated Mickoski.

The project's launch was also attended by Energy Minister Sanja Bozinovska, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to North Macedonia Ben Nupnau, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development representative Fatih Turkmenoglu, Albanian Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Enea Karakaci, and Burim Latifi, Director-General of North Macedonia's State-owned electricity transmission company MEPSO.