FYROM's government has adopted a feasibility study for the establishment of private-public partnerships for the construction of a 150 million euro ($200 million) gas distribution network in the country, the transport ministry said on Friday.

According to See News, the gas distribution network, with a total length of 650 kilometres, will cover 26 municipalities in the eastern part of the country and 37 municipalities in the western parts of the country, as well as the capital Skopje, the transport ministry said in a statement posted on its website.

For the region of Skopje public calls for private-public partnerships have been already published, it said, adding that forthe other regions public calls will be issued at the end of September.

The private partners will be awarded a 20-year concession to operate the gas distribution network.

Investments in the Skopje gas distribution network will total some 100 million euro.

The construction of the entire gas distribution network is expected to take four years, the statement quoted transport minister Mile Janakieski as saying.