Boost for Europe’s energy diversification and cross-border gas flows as Western Balkans plug into Vertical Corridor

The Vertical Corridor is expanding into the Western Balkans, with North Macedonia and Serbia joining the regional gas initiative, in a move set to strengthen energy diversification, cross-border connectivity, and security of supply from Greece to markets across Southeast and Central Europe.

The two countries formally joined the initiative by signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Thessaloniki on September 4, 2026, bringing NOMAGAS of North Macedonia and Transportgas Serbia into a growing network of gas transmission operators spanning Southeast and Central Europe.

The agreement marks another step in efforts to develop the Vertical Corridor as a flexible, interconnected route, linking diversified gas supplies with markets across the region.

The signing took place on the sidelines of the 10th Southeast Europe Energy Forum (SEEF), bringing together representatives from the participating countries, including energy ministers and senior government officials from Greece, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Ukraine, Serbia, and Romania.

U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle, U.S. Special Envoy for Energy Joshua Volz and the Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in North Macedonia Nicole Varnes also attended the ceremony.

With the addition of North Macedonia and Serbia, the Vertical Corridor now brings together transmission system operators and infrastructure companies from nine countries: Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Ukraine, Moldova, North Macedonia, and Serbia.

The participating companies are seeking to strengthen coordination across their interconnected transmission networks, with a focus on making better use of existing infrastructure while identifying new investment needs and expanding cross-border capacity.

The MoU also provides for closer cooperation on bidirectional gas flows, as well as regulatory, technical, and commercial coordination, with the aim of making the corridor more flexible and attractive to market participants.

The expansion into the Western Balkans comes as regional countries seek to diversify their supply sources and strengthen the resilience of their energy systems.

Greece is playing a central role in the corridor, with Alexandroupolis emerging as a key entry point for LNG supplies moving northward into regional markets. The Alexandroupolis LNG terminal is already operating as part of this infrastructure network, while the planned Thrace LNG terminal is expected to add further capacity and strengthen the country’s ability to support gas exports towards Southeast and Central Europe.

According to Gastrade, the developments reinforce Alexandroupolis’ growing role in the region’s energy infrastructure and the diversification of supply routes. The expansion of the Vertical Corridor adds another layer to Europe’s evolving energy map, connecting LNG and other diversified supply sources in the south with consumers further north and west.

Konstantinos Sifnaios, Managing Director of Gastrade, underlined: “Today’s signing marking the expansion of the Vertical Corridor to include Serbia and North Macedonia constitutes an important milestone in broadening alternative energy sources and routes towards the Western Balkans and the markets of Central Europe.”

Sifnaios believes the expansion further strengthens the corridor’s momentum and Greece’s role as an energy gateway to Southeast and Central Europe. The objective for the region is clear: more routes, greater flexibility, and stronger resilience in the face of changing energy markets.

“Alexandroupolis is at the heart of this dynamic,” Sifnaios said, pointing to the existing Alexandroupolis LNG terminal and the Thrace LNG project currently under development.

Power Your Brand With Offshore Energy ⤵️

Take the spotlight and anchor your brand in the heart of the offshore world!

Join us for a bigger impact and amplify your presence at the core hub of the offshore energy community!

ADVERTISE on Offshore-Energy.biz