North Macedonia’s state-owned electricity producer Elektrani na Severna Makedonija (ESM – formerly ELEM) and Turkish EPC contractor Girişim Elektrik have signed a contract for the installation of the 10 MW Oslomej solar power plant. The investment in the photovoltaic (PV) unit is estimated at EUR 6.9 million.

The contract was signed by Vasko Kovačevski, Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of ESM, and Muhittin Behiç Harmanlı, President of Girişim Elektrik. Deputy Prime Minister in charge of economic affairs Koco Angjusev, and Economy Minister Kreshnik Bekteshi were also present.

Kovačevski said international tendering has attracted 17 bids and that after the evaluation eight companies entered the final assessment.

The project will be financed by a EUR 5.9 million loan from the EBRD, and EUR 1 million from ESM’s own sources

According to the provisions, the PV plant must be installed in 10 months while the start of electricity generation is expected in the autumn of 2020, Kovačevski said. He asserted the project will be financed by a EUR 5.9 million loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and EUR 1 million from ESM’s own sources.

The largest PV plant in Algeria, with an installed capacity of 1.2 GW, was built by Girişim Elektrik

Girişim Elektrik’s boss said the company operates in seven countries. The largest PV plant in Algeria, with an installed capacity of 1.2 GW, was also built by it. In Turkey, Girişim has been involved in the construction of various renewable energy power plants, Behiç Harmanlı noted.

Oslomej will be constructed on a former overburden tip within the former lignite mine.

North Macedonia is conducting two tendering procedures for the construction of PV plants of 62 MW, for which a total of 126 bids have been submitted.

The country has solar power units with an installed capacity of 18.4 MW, and the new model envisages the construction of another 200 MW by the end of 2021.