North Macedonia Invited to Join Europe's Vertical Gas Corridor

North Macedonia has received an invitation to join the Vertical Gas Corridor — one of Europe's most significant initiatives for diversifying natural gas supply and strengthening energy stability across Southeastern, Central and Eastern Europe. The decision was confirmed at a meeting of gas transmission system operators in Athens, where it was agreed that the domestic operator NOMAGAS would become part of the regional framework.

Alongside Macedonia, Serbia is also in the process of joining, adding to an existing network that already includes Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, Ukraine, Slovakia and Hungary.

Part of a Bigger Picture

The move ties directly into infrastructure projects already underway at the Ministry of Energy — construction of the interconnector with Greece, expected to come online during 2027, and preparations for an interconnector with Serbia. With those two links, Macedonia will for the first time gain access to multiple natural gas sources, including liquefied natural gas (LNG), rather than depending on a single supply direction.

It's worth clarifying what "joining the corridor" actually means — this isn't about building one new, single pipeline, but about integrating into a coordinated European network of national pipelines, interconnectors and terminals, linked together to function as one flexible system.

Why Diversification Matters

Officials at the Ministry of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources describe this as a meaningful step toward a strategic goal: making Macedonia an active part of the European energy grid, with secure, diversified and competitive gas supply. For a country that for decades had effectively no real alternative supply route, that's not a small thing — though the real effect won't be felt until the interconnectors themselves are physically up and running.

MKNews Hub · Economy · August 17, 2026