Skopje, 29 December 2023 (MIA) - Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski said Friday that the Greek company Archirodon that has been awarded a concession to build the Chebren hydropower plant, has until the end of the month to decide whether to sign the contract and set up a joint venture with state-owned power utility ESM or not.

In response to questions from journalists, Kovachevski stated that the Government has reached a clear decision based on the tender procedure, the Law on Concessions, and the Law on Waters.

“The company selected by the Commission must now sign the contract, i.e., proceed with the process of setting up a joint venture with ESM or decide not to do so. However, I cannot anticipate their decision, and all the details are with the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, which is authorized to negotiate and sign everything necessary in the future,” Kovachevski said after the opening of sports hall in Karposh municipality.

PM Kovachevski refuted any claims of exerting pressure.

“I haven't heard any pressure so far, and no one has approached me or the Cabinet about it, so there is nothing of that sort related to me,” Kovachevski said.

On Sep. 14, at the 185th session, the Government adopted a decision for the selection of the most favorable offer for the concession of the use of water for the production of electricity with the construction of a hydropower plant on Crna Reka which is being granted to PUBLIC POWER CORPORATION S.A. - Greece & ARCHIRODON GROUP N.V. – Greece, in line with the tender documentation and the concession agreement.

The company had a three-month deadline to decide whether to continue the procedure. However, due to their complaint about the discrepancy between the decision's content and that of the tender, the deadline has been extended until the end of the month. If there is no response by Dec. 31, as announced, the bank guarantee of €1.4 million will be enforced.

Photo: MIA archive