North Macedonia to declare state of energy crisis

The Government of North Macedonia will declare a state of energy crisis to secure electricity supplies to consumers in the country.

The decision is intended to enable the transfer of budget funds to energy companies such as state-owned power producer Elektrani na Severna Makedonija (ESM) and electricity transmission system operator (TSO) MEPSO. Liquidity injections will enable electricity imports, according to a press release of the Ministry of Economy.

The government has adopted a decree on the state of energy crisis

A week ago the government adopted a decree on the state of energy crisis to comply with the Law on Energy.

Of note, at the beginning of October, the government decided to step up coal excavation and activate the third unit at power plant REK Bitola and import 1.8 million tons of coal to boost electricity output and avert price hikes.

The ministry said it didn’t envisage restrictions in power supply and that all relevant institutions meet regularly to monitor the situation in the electricity sector.

Bekteshi will propose the state of energy crisis to be declared on Tuesday

The decree on the state of energy crisis envisages various measures including the transfer of the budget funds to energy companies ESM and MEPSO, Minister of Economy Kreshnik Bekteshi told Alsat TV, according to the ministry’s website.

He will propose to the government to declare the state of the energy crisis at the meeting on Tuesday. All stakeholders in the energy sector are analyzing how much funds will need to be transferred to energy companies, Bekteshi underlined.

He expressed confidence the government has the means to intervene and secure enough money for the energy companies.