North Macedonia's state-owned power transmission company MEPSO launched a new tender for the supply and installation of 400 kilovolt (kV) power transmission line to Albania, after terminating a previous contract due to the contractor’s non-performance, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) said.

The new power line will start in Bitola and connect to the Albanian border through Ohrid, a notice published on the EBRD's e-procurement portal ECEPP showed on Friday. Interested parties can apply by June 9.

MEPSO terminated its previous agreement with Bosnia and Herzegovina's majority state-owned Energoinvest in December 2024, citing the contractor's failure to meet its obligations and requests for additional payments. The initial contract, signed in February 2020, was valued at EUR 17.2M.

Currently, North Macedonia has interconnections at the 400 kV level with Greece, Serbia, Kosovo, and Bulgaria.

On the Albanian side, the investments comprise a 400 kV transmission system that will connect Fier to Elbasan and from there to the border with North Macedonia. In addition, a new substation (Elbasan 3) will be built while the substation in Fier will be upgraded to 400 kV level. These investments are supported by a Euro 14.3 million EU grant, and a Euro 50 million loan provided by the KfW Development Bank on behalf of the German Federal Government. The project is underway.

This project is important for the integration of European electricity markets and has been a Project of Energy Community Interest (PECI) since 2013. It is included in the Strategy for Energy Development of North Macedonia until 2040 and is funded under the EU’s Connectivity Agenda. Power grid