Macedonia on track to start building gas network in Q1'13 - transport minister

The government expects to receive a financial offer for the project from the Russian company at the end of this year or early next year, after which construction works can be launched, Janakieski said in a statement issued by the cabinet over the weekend after a Stroytransgaz mission visited Skopje.

The project will start with the construction of the section from Klecovce to the Negotino thermal power plant. For the subsequent connection of the Negotino power plant with the coal mining and energy complex REK Bitola as well as for the construction of the pipeline section from Skopje to Gostivar, in the country's northwest, Macedonia plans to get financial support from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Janakieski said.

Macedonia signed a memorandum of cooperation with Stroytransgaz on a project for the construction of a gasification system estimated to cost some 300 million euro ($382 million) in July 2012.

($=0.7845 euro)