ATHENS — Greece's energy relations with North Macedonia are on an upgrading course following contacts made during the neighboring country's Prime Minister Zoran Zaev's visit to Athens.

According to sources, Zaev met with the management of Hellenic Petroleum (ELPE) with the main object of resolving the pending issues for the reopening of the ELPE fuel pipeline that connects the Thessaloniki refinery with Skopje. The meeting, according to the same sources, took place in a very good climate. The prospect of reopening the pipeline is estimated at the beginning of the summer, while during the meeting they discussed the possibility of further investments of the group in the neighboring country was raised.

In the field of electricity, PPC's interest in the new Cebren hydroelectric project is significant, for which the Greek company has passed the second stage of the relevant tender. This is a unit of significant power (333-458 MW) with an estimated annual production of 1000-1200 GWh.

The planning of DESFA also includes the construction of a supply pipeline of the neighboring country with natural gas.