Skopje, 23 January 2024 (MIA) - This year will be the first one on record that the country is fully independent from the East regarding energy suipply, primarily in the natural gas sector, said Economy Minister Kreshnik Bekteshi on Tuesday.

Minister Bekteshi told a panel at conference "Year of European Opportunities" that a pipeline is set to be put into use, initially intended for distributon of crude oil but now used for other oil derivatives as well.

"Since the country's independence in 1991, the country has been dependent on the East for energy supply. As of this year, we will not depend on any country and decide on our own while considering the principles of competitiveness, thus increasing our security and speeding up EU integration," said Minister Bekteshi.

He added that the just energy transition investment platform incorporates investments in infrastructure and networking with neighboring countries, as well as transforming national capacities from conventional output to "green energy".

"In the section on fossil fuels, we have managed in our talks with the EU and other stakeholders to extend the deadline to transform energy blocs in Bitola, Oslomej and Negotino from coal to gas by 2040, considering the construction of a new interconnector that will secure energy supply. Until now, we have been entirely dependent on one entry point for natural gas - Bulgaria - which is unfortunately leased by Gazprom until 2030," said Bekteshi. 

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