Thessaloniki–Skopje oil pipeline to resume operations by year-end

The Thessaloniki–Skopje oil pipeline will be back in operation by the end of the year after more than a decade of inactivity, North Macedonia’s Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski announced on Wednesday.

Mickoski said the pipeline had been “almost destroyed” and left without maintenance for years, but pressure testing has begun or is already underway. Full operations are expected to resume before year’s end.

Built in 2002, the 213-kilometer pipeline—70 kilometers of which lie in Greece—was designed to transport fuel from the Thessaloniki refinery to the Okta refinery in Skopje. 

It was operated by Vardax, a company owned 80% by Helleniq Energy and 20% by the state of North Macedonia. The pipeline was shut down in 2013 due to financial and operational difficulties.

North Macedonia currently sources about 85% of its oil products from Greece. Officials say reactivating the pipeline will lower import costs and help curb illegal fuel trading in the country. 

Helleniq Energy is also expected to benefit from the restart, with the potential to expand exports to other Balkan markets, including Serbia and Kosovo.