Why did the new government of North Macedonia need securing energy supplies?

Firstly, the Ministry of Energy, Mining, and Mineral Resources needed to address a critical issue: securing energy supplies for the winter. Sanja Božinovska stated that the new Government of North Macedonia inherited a challenging situation in the energy sector and had to make every effort to ensure a reliable energy supply throughout the winter.

How does North Macedonia generate electricity?

North Macedonia has historically relied on hydropower for a significant portion of its electricity generation. The country has utilized its rivers to develop hydropower plants. There have been also efforts to harness wind energy, and several wind projects have been proposed or are under development.

Will North Macedonia become self-sufficient in electricity production?

The vision of the new ministry is for North Macedonia to become self-sufficient in electricity production. According to Božinovska, it is crucial for the country to focus on domestic electricity generation, as it currently lacks new renewable energy capacities.

Should North Macedonia accelerate the transition to renewables?

Like others in the region, North Macedonia must balance its need to rapidly accelerate the transition to renewables to secure its energy future with the need to ensure that future is one where both the country’s nature and people thrive.

Will North Macedonia get a grid connection?

Like other countries in Southeast Europe, North Macedonia is flooded with investor applications for the grid connections of new solar and wind projects. The transmission system operator (TSO) MEPSO has a huge waiting list for the preliminary grid connection. In her words, the investors want to connect a total capacity of 9,000 MW.

Does North Macedonia need a coal phase-out?

Even though the country has historically been dependent on lignite coal mining for around 30% and gas imports for an additional 15% of its electricity production, it has nonetheless set very ambitious goals for decarbonization. As part of the Powering Past Coal Alliance, North Macedonia has committed to a coal phase-out by 2027.