Macedonia Enters the Energy Game of the Big Players: Labudović with a Strong Message from Baku

Macedonia Enters the Energy Game of the Big Players: Labudović with a Strong Message from Baku

The Deputy Minister of Energy, Mining, and Mineral Resources, Miroslav Labudović, led the Macedonian delegation at the 11th Ministerial Meeting of the Advisory Council for the Southern Gas Corridor (SGC) and the 3rd Ministerial Meeting of the Advisory Council for Green Energy, held in Baku, Azerbaijan.

 

In the presence of high-ranking EU officials, ministers from the region, and energy companies, Labudović sent a clear message: Macedonia is ready to become a strategic transit hub for gas to Europe.

 

"By the end of the year, we will start the construction of a new gas pipeline interconnector to Greece, which will connect us to the Trans Adriatic Pipeline and provide direct access to alternative sources of supply," Labudović emphasized in his speech. He highlighted that this is not just an infrastructure project but a key step in strengthening North Macedonia's position as a reliable partner in European energy strategies.

 

On the sidelines of the conference, Deputy Minister Labudović and the Head of the Oil and Gas Sector at the Ministry of Energy, Goran Nikolovski, held meetings with representatives from Azerbaijan, the EU, and delegations from 24 countries, 7 international financial institutions, and 42 energy companies. The focus of these discussions was on enhancing cooperation in natural gas, renewable energy sources, and methane emission reduction.

 

With the participation of this meeting, as well as previous visits by President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova and Minister Sanja Bozhinovska, the Macedonian delegation reaffirmed the country's commitment to being actively involved in regional and European initiatives for energy security and green transition.

 

"The gas cooperation with Azerbaijan is a direct contribution to reducing dependence and securing alternative supply sources for the stability of the European market. North Macedonia is ready to be part of the solution," concluded Labudović.

 

The Southern Gas Corridor was initiated by the European Commission in 2008 as part of efforts to reduce Europe's dependence on Russian gas and increase the diversification of supply. The corridor from Azerbaijan to Europe includes SCPX, TANAP, and TAP, with a total investment of around 35 billion US dollars. The main supply source is the Shah Deniz gas field in the Caspian Sea. The first ministerial meeting was held on February 12, 2015, followed by 9 more meetings. These meetings were crucial for coordinating and developing the Southern Gas Corridor project, with participation from energy ministers of the countries involved. The 10th meeting, held on February 2, 2024, saw Poland join the regular participants for the first time, signaling interest in expanding the corridor to Central Europe. The meeting focused on increasing the corridor's capacity and integrating it with other energy projects in the region.

 

Respectfully,

Ministry of Energy, Mining, and Mineral Resources