Hellenic Gas Transmission System Operator DESFA participated in the 2nd Quadrilateral Ministerial Meeting on Energy and Connectivity, held in Belgrade with the participation of Greece, Serbia, Bulgaria and North Macedonia, highlighting progress on the Vertical Gas Corridor and its key role in turning Greece’s strategic position and natural gas infrastructure into a gateway for diversified and competitive sources of supply to Southeast and Central Europe.
DESFA CEO Maria Sferruzza met with the energy ministers and the heads of natural gas and electricity transmission system operators from the four countries, underscoring DESFA’s commitment to moving the Vertical Corridor from political cooperation to implementation, with a focus on infrastructure, available capacity, operational coordination and, ultimately, reliable gas flows across the region.
As DESFA said in a statement, a key step is the extension of the Vertical Corridor to North Macedonia and Serbia, following the Memorandum of Understanding signed in Thessaloniki in September. This will create an additional northern route for flows entering through Greece and strengthen connectivity with the Western Balkans and markets further north.
The Serbia-North Macedonia gas interconnector will be linked to the Greece-North Macedonia Interconnector (IGNM), which is currently under construction. The Greek section is expected to be completed by the end of 2026, while the North Macedonian section is expected to be completed in 2027.
According to DESFA, Greece is already emerging as a key southern entry point for diversified natural gas supplies to the region. Through DESFA’s transmission infrastructure and LNG facilities, including the Revithoussa LNG terminal, together with the Alexandroupolis FSRU, the Greek system provides access to multiple gas sources and greater flexibility for northbound flows.
Greece’s export capacity to neighbouring markets is expected to reach around 9.5 bcm per year by 2027, supported by new interconnections and continued network expansion.
For DESFA, the next phase involves operating this infrastructure as an integrated regional system. Together with gas transmission system operators across the region, DESFA is working to identify available routes and capacity, address remaining bottlenecks and assess targeted investments where needed, making the most efficient use of existing infrastructure while strengthening commercial and regulatory coordination along the Corridor.
According to DESFA, this practical approach is particularly important as Europe prepares for the gradual phase-out of Russian natural gas. Greece and the wider Southeast and Central European region are preparing for the 2026/27 winter with a clear focus on resilience.
While the evolving supply environment requires continued vigilance, diversified sources, additional infrastructure and stronger regional coordination provide the flexibility needed to manage the transition and support secure and competitive natural gas supplies.
DESFA CEO: Vertical Corridor moving from political ambition to implementation
DESFA CEO Maria Sferruzza said: “The Vertical Corridor is moving from political ambition to implementation. The infrastructure and capacity already available across our region provide a strong foundation, but the priority now is to make use of this capacity — connecting systems, removing bottlenecks and enabling reliable and competitive flows.
The extension of the Corridor to North Macedonia and Serbia, also following the Memorandum of Understanding signed in Thessaloniki in September, is an important step in this direction.
As the southern gateway of the Corridor, DESFA has a clear role to play, connecting diversified sources of supply entering through Greece with the markets of Southeast and Central Europe and the Western Balkans. We will continue working with our regional partners to make the most of existing infrastructure and deliver a more interconnected, resilient and secure European natural gas system.”
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