Skopje, 25 June 2025 (MIA) – Chebren [hydropower plant] will become a fact and it is a confirmation that every megawatt from this dam that is to be built will be a step toward our energy independence, the Minister of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources, Sanja Bozhinovska said Wednesday.

In a very short time, she said, it will be known how the hydropower plan project will be implemented after 14 failed tenders whether by the state fully or in line with public and private partnership. The investment is estimated to at least billion euros with some estimates going as high as one billion and 300 million euros.

“Experts from the Chebren-Galishte taskforce recommended that the project should be fully state-owned. We’re now checking how much it might cost. You know the state of our budget, we have several options, we’ll see what is most suitable for us because one billion and 300 million is not a small figure. Once we see what the financial implications may be to us, whether it will be ours 100% or a public and private partnership, which I hope we will know in a very short time,” Bozhinovska told a news conference marking the Energy Ministry’s one-year anniversary responding to a reporter’s question.

The Minister insisted that the government hasn’t quit the Vardan Valley project to construct a high-speed rail along Corridor 10.

“We haven’t quit, which is beneficial. We’re in talks with the transport minister,” she stated.

Focusing on her ministry’s achievements one year on, Minister Bozhinovska said an institution was established that is the driving force of the energy sector.

We, she noted, secured a price lower by 12 million euros at the tender for the interconnector with Greece and a Macedonian company is involved. A ceremony marking the start of construction works will take place by July 10.

Bozhinovska said that 60 million denars were singled out to support at-risk energy consumers and 7,000 households will receive electricity from photovoltaics installed on former mines.

It is being invested in smart networks to bolster regional cooperation, she added. “We are changing the way we think. Before, there wasn’t an institution that cared for our energy facilities, now we’re introducing order, control and inspections. We’re laying the foundations, we are working in transparent manner,” said Bozhinovska.  

This past year, the Minister stressed, proved we can do so much more, however, this is only a motivation and we won’t stop here as we are working on six more bills.

“We hope we will restore the energy power in the country. We’ll invest, we’ll modernize. We want Macedonia to be strong energy-wise, economically stable and environmentally clear,” stressed the Energy Minister.

Photo: MIA