Skopje, 4 October 2024 (MIA) - We are assessing the situation, i.e., how much electricity we will lack, and we will look to procure energy for the long-term, we won’t be buying it a week ahead because then it really is more expensive, said Minister of Energy, Mining and Minerals Sanja Bozhinovska at a press conference Friday.

“REK Bitola’s capacities aren’t in the best state, and we can’t count on all three blocs, we inherited this and we are aware that it is from 1984. That’s why we will produce energy for the fourth quarter and potentially the first three months of 2025. The prices now are around EUR 100 for megawatt hour, which means that despite the war, there have been no huge electricity price changes so far,” Bozhinovska said in answer to a journalist’s question.

Bozhinovska said the Ministry would draft an energy balance in the next seven days in order to have accurate figures over how much electricity will be needed.

“This also depends on the hydrometeorological conditions. Currently, the accumulations are only around 24 percent full which isn’t good, however, if November is rainy, they can fill up. In terms of finances, we’ve discussed this with the Prime Minister, and we have good chances of securing finances. We still haven’t discussed the specifics, but they would come from domestic banks,” Bozhinovska said.

Photo: MIA