October 2 (SeeNews) - North Macedonia's prime minister Zoran Zaev said on Friday that the country considers reactivating the Thessaloniki-Skopje oil pipeline which has been out of use for seven years.
Greek Hellenic Petroleum is interested in putting the pipeline back into operation and upgrading it, making Skopje a centre for oil derivatives, Zaev told a press conference streamed on the government's YouTube channel after a meeting with US Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources Francis Fannon.
The transportation of oil through the pipeline linking Thessaloniki with the Okta oil refinery in Skopje stopped in 2013 when Okta stopped operating as a refinery.
Zaev also said that with the support of the U.S., North Macedonia will accelerate and initiate several energy projects that will be significant for the country and the region.
In mid-September, Zaev said North Macedonia is interested in participating in the construction of a floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal that is being developed by Greek company Gastrade off the coastal city of Alexandroupolis.
The LNG terminal in Alexandroupolis, which is expected to become operational in early 2023, is planned to comprise a floating unit for reception storage and regasification of LNG, which will be a new, independent energy gateway for the markets of Southeastern and Central Europe.