Bekteshi: Heating energy to be available until end of season, electricity to be supplied from domestic facilities
Skopje, 15 October 2022 (MIA) – Economy Minister Kreshnik Bekteshi said citizens will be supplied with heating energy uninterruptedly until the end of the heating season, adding that electricity consumers on the regulated market, such as households, will also get electricity from domestic capacities, regarding which, he pointed out, all necessary preparations are already made.
“Citizens will be continuously supplied with heating energy. That’s why there’s no need to create panic, because all institutions are ready to promptly deliver what they are obligated to deliver,” Bekteshi said during a visit to the “Istok” heating plant on Saturday as the heating season started.
He stressed that the Power Plants of North Macedonia (ESM) managed to complete all obligations and preparations on time, obtaining licenses in order to be able to deliver heating energy.
As regards the supply of electricity, the Economy Minister pointed out that in terms of the regulated market, households, small consumers and part of the free market will be continuously supplied with electricity from domestic facilities throughout the winter season.
“We are not dependent on other countries. We prepared to cover everything at home, so that we wouldn’t have an increase in prices and we wouldn’t depend on what might happen in the region, in Europe or globally. That's why all facilities are already being put into operation, and today is certainly a confirmation of the fact that for the last few months, ESM director Vasko Kovachevski and his team with the support of the Government have made all the preparations to have heating in the city of Skopje today,” said Bekteshi.
ESM director Vasko Kovachevski who joined Bekteshi on Saturday’s visit to the “Istok” heating plant, reassured citizens that heating energy will be available.
Given that initially gas was procured from Makpetrol only for the first two weeks of the heating season, Kovachevski noted that gas will be procured additionally, at lower prices because, he said, prices are declining. If there are any changes, and there are extremely high gas prices or if gas is not available on the market, preparations are being made for the "Istok” and "Zapad” heating plants to operate on diesel fuel, regarding which ESM makes necessary procurement of equipment and pumps for that purpose.
According to Kovachevski, talks are also underway for a six-month purchase and delivery of natural gas at a price lower than the current price from companies outside the country.
Regarding the supply of electricity, Kovachevski said the decline in temperatures itself leads to greater consumption, however, he noted, ESM is fully prepared in this regard as well.
I believe, the ESM director pointed out, that in this way of functioning and management of all energy capacities in the country, we will successfully go through this heating season and we will successfully overcome the energy crisis.
