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Electricity is widely used for residential heating in Macedonia, particularly in urban areas, as shown in Table 2.4 below. Electric heating is both inefficient (as manifest in Macedonia's relatively high energy intensity, shown in Table 2.3 above) and undesirable from an environmental point of view in comparison to the use of gas for heating.

Though a gas pipeline was constructed in 1996 connecting Skopje to the Bulgarian gas network, and facilitating the import of Russian gas, capacity utilization is currently under 10 percent, and gas demand is only 1 percent of total energy demand in Macedonia.

Given the presence of the gas pipeline, and population density, Skopje is the most likely candidate for a Macedonia gasification project. The economics of gasifying areas in Skopje currently not served by the district heating network are dependent on the relative price of gas and power. A study carried out by COWI suggested that development of a Skopje gas distribution network would be economically viable at the then current gas and power prices.

In order for a Skopje gas distribution project to proceed, a number of issues would have to be settled (e.g. relating to ownership of the gas pipeline) and a framework for regulation of the gas industry developed.

In addition, a feasibility study would be required in order to elaborate details of a Skopje gasification project. It would build on the COWI study, providing precise estimates of costs and benefits associated with gasification, and through this, to specify a project design (in terms of areas to be covered, number of consumers to be connected, forecast prices, finance requirements, etc.). Such a feasibility study lies well beyond the realms of the current paper.

With progress in these areas, it may be feasible to structure a concession for development of a Skopje network; donor finance should be sought for development of such a concession. To the extent that market sentiment for gas distribution concessions is not favorable – the extent of private sector interest should become clear following tenders for gas distribution concessions underway or planned in a number of South East Europe (SEE) countries - construction of a gas distribution network could be financed on a sovereign basis.

In order for gasification to take place outside Skopje, a new north-south pipeline would be required. Such a pipeline would also potentially facilitate import of Caspian gas to Macedonia, possibly at a lower price than Russian gas. Recognizing the potential for import of Caspian gas through Turkey to SEE, a project to construct a new Greece – Turkey gas pipeline has been developed. In conjunction with the Greece-Turkey pipeline, Macedonia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, Serbia and Turkey signed an interconnection agreement in February 2003, whereby there was agreement to explore options for exporting gas from Turkey via Greece to the other signatory countries.

The World Bank has commissioned a preliminary study to establish possible delivery prices of Caspian gas to SEE countries. The study suggests that based on current off-take contract prices betw本论文由英语论文网提供整理，提供论文代写，英语论文代写，代写论文，代写英语论文，代写留学生论文，代写英文论文，留学生论文代写相关核心关键词搜索。