Photo: Ministry of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources
More than 600 employees of state-owned electricity utility Elektrani na Severna Makedonija have completed training programs for knowledge and skills as part of projects supporting a just energy transition.
The Ministry of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources said that two workforce development projects supporting a just energy transition have been successfully completed in cooperation with Elektrani na Severna Makedonija (ESM) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
The certificate-awarding ceremony was held in Bitola. The training lasted about a year.
The projects are part of North Macedonia’s Just Energy Transition Investment Platform, launched in 2023 and coordinated by the ministry.
Bitola and Oslomej are the two North Macedonian coal regions
The goal is to support employees and communities affected by the transition away from coal by strengthening skills, improving employability, and building resilience in the energy sector, according to the ministry.
Within these two projects, more than 600 ESM employees participated in structured training programs covering technical and managerial skills, including productivity, energy management, leadership, communication, and the installation of solar systems.
The initiatives were supported by a Japanese fund for technical cooperation and Bloomberg Philanthropies, through the EBRD.
As coal regions enter a new chapter, continuous investment in skills, innovation, and local economic development will remain key to ensuring that communities like Bitola and Oslomej thrive during the energy transition, the ministry explained.
Bitola and Oslomej are the two coal regions of North Macedonia, with complexes of coal mines and power plants REK Bitola and REK Oslomej, subsidiaries of ESM. Oslomej no longer has an active mine.
Božinovska: A just transition means people have a place in the future we are creating
Minister of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources Sanja Božinovska said that a just transition is not just about clean energy.
“It means that people have a role in the future we are creating. Changes require new skills, new approaches, and continuous learning. It is why investing in knowledge is just as important as investing in new energy capacities. Modern energy starts right here – with people,” she asserted.
Božinovska underscored that 600 ESM employees gained new knowledge and competencies to cope with the upcoming changes.
“I would like to say to everyone who earned a certificate: this is not just recognition for completed training, it is trust that you are the drivers of change,” Božinovska added.
Türkmenoğlu: Employees and communities must be supported
Head of the EBRD office in North Macedonia Fatih Türkmenoğlu stressed the importance of investing in people as the foundation of a successful energy transition.
He underlined that regions like Bitola and Oslomej have played a key role in ensuring national energy security for decades. Therefore, workers and communities must be supported as the energy system transforms, he pointed out.
The EBRD also said it would launch the Woman-led Coal Transition platform in North Macedonia, with a USD 150,000 budget. The program will support women employed in the energy sector who are affected by the transition.
Cooperation between the ministry and Balkan Green Energy News
Of note, the Ministry of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources of North Macedonia and Balkan Green Energy News have signed a memorandum of understanding to advance cooperation in implementing the energy transition and regional cooperation.
It includes Belgrade Energy Forum (BEF) – Southeast Europe’s premier annual B2B and B2G conference, organized by Balkan Green Energy News. This year’s edition – BEF 2026 – is scheduled for May 11 and 12.
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