North Macedonia plans energy renovation of 14 major public buildings

North Macedonia’s Ministry of Energy, Mining, and Mineral Resources has finalized a plan for the reconstruction of 14 public buildings, describing it as the most extensive energy renovation of the country’s institutions to date.

The plan for the reconstruction of buildings used by the state administration for the period 2025–2028 establishes a clear, three-year framework for the most extensive energy renovation of institutions in the country to date, the Ministry of Energy, Mining, and Mineral Resources said.

The program covers 14 public buildings with a total usable area of nearly 103,000 square meters. They host 33 institutions with 5,000 employees.

The estimated value of the program is about EUR 11.11 million, including technical inspections, projects, supervision, and implementation, according to the ministry.

The plan aims to ensure less pollution, better air quality, and more efficient spending of public funds

The ministry pointed out that the goal of the energy renovation is to reduce energy costs, improve working conditions, reduce emissions, and modernize the public sector in line with European standards.

Less pollution, better air quality, and more efficient use of public money are the benefits that will be felt by both institutions and citizens, the ministry stressed.

This strategic document is envisaged by the reform agenda and represents a legal obligation to renovate at least 3% of the total usable area of public buildings each year.

The ministry recalled that the plan marks an important step in the transposition of European Union legislation on energy efficiency – Directive 2018/2002/EU and Regulation 2018/1999/EU – and that it is aligned with the country’s obligations towards the Energy Community.

The plan covers three groups of buildings

The plan groups buildings into three categories according to their condition and the urgency of renovation.

The first group includes the buildings used by the Ministry of Health (along with the Institute for Public Health and the state sanitary and health inspectorate), the State Statistical Office, the Agency for Real Estate Cadastre, and the hydrometeorological administration.

The second group includes part of the Ministry of Economy, the building housing the administration agency, the state inspectorate for energy, mining and mineral resources, as well as a broad administrative bloc — including the Ministry of Public Administration, the Ministry of Education and Science, the Ministry of Local Self‑Government, the State Election Commission, the Agency for Medicines, and the secretariat for legislation.

The third group includes eight buildings that were previously renovated but require energy upgrades and modern systems.

Each building will undergo an energy audit, after which specific measures will be defined – ranging from thermal insulation of façades and window replacement to the installation of solar thermal systems, PV panels on roof structures, and modern heating, lighting, and automated consumption-control systems, the ministry explained.