Bulgaria to deliver 200 MWh of electricity to North Macedonia

Bulgaria will deliver 200 megawatt-hours (MWh) of electricity to North Macedonia to help the country mitigate the effects of the energy crisis, local media reported. The deal was agreed in Sophia at the meeting between prime ministers Dimitar Kovachevski and Galab Donev.

Deliveries of electricity from the beginning of October to the end of March would ensure a stable supply to firms in North Macedonia, which is one of the key demands of the business sector in the country, according to the media reports.

Kovachevski said the purpose of the meeting was to try to find a solution for the supply of electricity during the fourth quarter of this year and the first quarter of 2023 under optimal conditions for businesses.

The two leaders agreed to immediately establish a working group consisting of the minister of economy of North Macedonia, the minister of energy of Bulgaria, representatives of power utility Elektrani na Severna Makedonija (ESM) and energy companies from Bulgaria. It will discuss the technical parameters in terms of capacities and electricity transport, he said at the press conference after the meeting.

The working group will prepare the proposal on the cooperation within two weeks

Kovachevski added prices would have to be defined in accordance with the legislation of Bulgaria and North Macedonia and the European Union’s directives.

Kovachevski separately stressed the government would do everything to determine an electricity price optimal for domestic firms under the current conditions, lower than at power exchanges and sustainable for economic entities. The price will be discussed by the working group, he added.

Bulgaria is North Macedonia’s first choice for securing electricity imports

Earlier, firms asked the government to make sure cross-border flows of electricity are not interrupted, warning that so far it has occurred three times between Bulgaria and North Macedonia.

According to Kovachevski, the issue was also the subject of talks with the Bulgarian side.

The proposal on all plans for cooperation is expected over the next two weeks, he added.

Kovachevski said North Macedonia has other options, but that Bulgaria is one of the major providers of baseload electricity in the region with its nuclear power plant Kozloduy.