Skopje, 12 February 2024 (MIA) - During the energy crisis we were saved by the thermal power plant (TEC) Negotino and blocs at the Mining and Energy Combine (REK) Bitola, which are already 40 years old, while TE-TO provided electricity for low tariffs covered by the Government. We need new investments to ensure energy independence, and all necessary energy projects will be implemented through short-term strategic projects. The Energy Community Secretariat will be the most important filter in terms of state aid for their realization, in accordance with domestic and European legislation, says Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) president Marko Bislimoski.

“State aid coming from any European country has to first be approved by the European Commission, and we are not an EU member, only a signatory to the Treaty for the establishment of the Energy Community Secretariat, which is an EU body responsible for energy. The Secretariat will have to approve state aid for energy investments in our country. We should relax because an international institution will make a binding statement, which will help remove all dilemmas," Beslimoski told Sitel TV.

We have four agreements in Parliament, he adds, for strategic energy investments totaling 850 megawatts for electricity and 100 megawatts for thermal energy.

"Together with previous investments by the private sector of 600 megawatts from renewable energy sources, Macedonia will double its production and strengthen its energy independence in less than a decade," notes Bislimoski. ssh/ik/

MIA file photo