Struga, 2 October 2024 (MIA) - Sustainable development in energy doesn’t just mean adopting clean energy technologies, but also promoting energy efficiency and reducing our total energy consumption, said Minister of Energy, Mining and Minerals, Sanja Bozhinovska, at the opening Wednesday of the “Energy 2024” conference, held Oct. 2-4 in Struga by the Macedonian Energy Association (ZEMAK).

According to the Minister, this requires investments in research and development, as well as joint efforts between the governments, leaders of industry and academic institutions.

Regional cooperation, she stressed, is especially important for energy transformation. 

“The energy challenges we face aren’t limited to national borders. Projects for cooperation, integrated electricity markets and regional coordination of policies are essential for achieving energy security and sustainability in our region,” Bozhinovska said.

According to the Minister, the ideas and partnerships that will arise from the energy conference will shape the future of energy in North Macedonia, the region and the world.

“Countries are moving away from fossil fuels and investing in renewable sources of energy, such as sun, wind, hydro and geothermal energy. North Macedonia is no exception and in the past years we’ve taken significant steps to expand our capacities for renewable energy, especially regarding solar and wind parks. However, we must acknowledge that this transition is full of challenges. Investments in infrastructure, regulatory reforms and adopting new technologies require significant resources,” the Energy Minister said. 

The head of the Macedonian Energy Association, Borko Aleksoski, said energy is one of the most important pillars upon which all societies rest, pointing to the importance of its promotion for the overall social development.

“The development of energy in our country must follow all trends in the region and Europe. To that end, comprehensive activities are being taken to implement the European legislation within our national legislation, which will then serve as a basis for the development of energy and accession to the European single energy market,” Aleksoski said.

Photo: MIA