Russian company Stroytransgaz kicked off Saturday the construction of gas pipeline section Klecovce-Bloc Station 5 within the project for construction of a national gas distribution system in Macedonia. Stroytransgaz will build 61km of the 96,6km-long Klecovce-Negotino gas pipeline by June 2016. The cost of the entire project stands at US$ 75.7 million, secured through repayment of the outstanding debt between the former Soviet Union and the former Yugoslavia, of which Macedonia was a member.

The official launch event was attended by Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, Deputy PM Zoran Stavreski, Transport Minister Mile Janakieski, Directors of joint-stock company Macedonian Energy Resources and Russian company Stroytransgaz, Krste Miladinov and Oleg Sirgeyev and Russian Ambassador Oleg Shcherbak.

Government officials said that the construction of gas pipeline is of great importance for Macedonia enabling gas to be accessible on entire territory to citizens, companies. What we have been speaking for years today is becoming a reality, Gruevski said underlining that they were working hardly to come to this stage - the launch of construction works of gas pipeline.

This section is first to be built because it will enable further expansion on entire gas pipeline in the country. All major places will be connected as planned. Next destinations which we planned to be built are from Stip to Kavadarci, through Prilep to Bitola and Ohrid, from Stip to Radovis – Strumica – Gevgelija to the Greek border, from Strumica to Novo Selo and Bulgarian border, from Skopje – Tetovo – Gostivar through Kicevo – Struga to Kafasan and Albanian border, Gruevski said.

By construction of gas pipeline Macedonia gets access to strategic resources and the benefit is multiple. The most important benefit is for the citizens. The opportunity to gas in households will mean reduced electricity and heating bills. The economy will also benefit from this – the use of cheaper energy sources will mean larger profit of companies, bigger competitiveness of domestic product, better conditions for doing business and opening new jobs as well, Gruevski said.

The use of gas will have positive influence in production of electricity by state electric power plants. Their modernisation and adaptation will mean reduction of costs for production and improvement of environment aspect in their work. By this Macedonia will get cheaper and environmentally more acceptable alternative of crude oil, Gruevski said.

Capital investments as construction of gas pipeline, highways, railroads, airports, new factories, hydro power plants, schools, boulevards, sport halls according to Gruevski are large projects, which are result of government’s commitment and hard work.

The route of new gas pipeline from Kleckovce, as planned should be connected with the existing Kriva Palanka – Skopje gas pipeline. It will pass near Stip industrial zone. Additional financial means should be provided for the rest of the route from Negotino and Kavadarci. The gas pipeline will be connected with Negotino thermo-electric power plant.

The road to realisation of this project was very hard and full of challenges, Deputy PM Stavreski said. But now we are satisfied adding that it took a lot of manpower for realisation of this project. We were also criticised during the realisation of the project but also this gave us confidence and strength that we are on the right way.

The promise given in the government’s programme starts to be realised today, Janakieski said, adding that the final goal is gasification of entire country. We have worked hardly in the past several years also in the part of secondary gas pipeline. If everything goes as planned, the gasification of cities will begin in 2016 and by 2022 the entire gas pipeline network will be constructed on entire territory in Macedonia, Janakieski said.

Director of joint-stock company Macedonian Energy Resources Miladinov said that the project will open new era in energy sector in Macedonia and will improve the quality of living for every citizen. It will provide stability in energy supply in the country, protection of environment and creating new jobs as well.

Russian company Stroytransgaz director Oleg Sirgeyev said that the construction of the first section of gas pipeline will be part of huge project for construction of gas pipeline network in Macedonia. The project will provide energy in every household and citizens will be provided with better living conditions, Sirgeyev said, adding that this will enable development and strengthening of business and political relations between Macedonia and Russia.

Russian Ambassador Oleg Shcherbak said that successful project completion will play very important role in further social and economic promotion of the Republic of Macedonia, resolving environmental and other problems. It will give additional stimulus in increase of this energetic, industrial and investment potential as well as towards fruitful and mutual cooperation between Russian and Macedonian companies.