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State-owned power utility Elektrani na Severna Makedonija, ESM, launched a public call for offers for consulting and supervision services for the installation of two photovoltaic plants on a depleted coal mine and next to a thermal power plant.
North Macedonia is pushing ahead with its decarbonization efforts, at the fastest pace in the Western Balkans. After in April it commissioned the first solar power plant on a former coal mine in the region, state-owned coal and power producer ESM is now looking for a consultant for two such projects.
The call was launched at the Client E-Procurement Portal (ECEPP) of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, which is preparing a loan of up to EUR 25 million for the endeavor. ESM plans to build a 10 MW solar power plant at an exhausted open pit coal mine at its REK Oslomej complex, while the location for the other one is next to the REK Bitola coal power plant. Its capacity should reach 20 MW.
The REK Oslomej coal mines and thermal power plant complex will get another 10 MW solar power unit while the photovoltaic plant in REK Bitola should have 20 MW in capacity
The company said the contract would be for consulting and supervision services. The selected PIU (project implementation unit) consultant will need to facilitate timely and effective implementation, according to the ad.
The closing date is December 2. The two investments are valued at EUR 29 million in total, the documentation shows.
The largest photovoltaic plant in the Western Balkans is also in North Macedonia. ESM is developing several utility-scale solar power projects in the REK Oslomej and REK Bitola complexes. Works on two such facilities under public-private partnerships, at 50 MW each, are expected to begin soon.
The government aims to stop using coal by 2030, so it is transforming REK Oslomej and REK Bitola by replacing the fuel with cleaner sources.
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