Skopje, 10 September 2025 (MIA) -- The Energy Regulatory Commission will cooperate with the State Market Inspectorate to speed up inspections of energy sector companies, focusing on fuel wholesalers and retail outlets like gas stations and the quality of fuel they sell, the ERC said in a press release.

According to ERC head Marko Bislimoski, the memorandum of cooperation he signed with SMI director Vlatko Stojkovski will streamline inspections of companies suspected of "atypical behavior" and, based on the inspectors' reports, the national energy regulator will better enforce rules.

"Our cooperation aims at protecting consumers as well as taking corrective action against permit holders," Bislimoski said.

He said the regulator had already started a procedure to revoke the permit of an oil company that state inspectors found did not meet even minimum requirements.

"At the moment, we're working on granting permits to the largest oil companies, which are extending their permits after 20 years. It is a complex process that necessitates joint activities by the ERC and SMI so we can assess the factual situation on the ground and whether the legal conditions have been met," Bislimoski said.

According to Stojkoski, state inspectors had conducted over 80 inspections at gas stations and fuel oil depots across the country in the past eight months.

"Regarding the quality of oil derivatives on Macedonia's fuel market, over 150 samples were taken for laboratory testing," the chief market inspector said, adding that 16 companies were issued temporary operating bans for not meeting standards.

In cooperation with the regulator, the inspectorate would tighten the supervision of energy sector companies even more, Stojkoski said. mr/