Skopje, 3 November 2023 (MIA) - Natural gas is globally considered a transitional fuel to fully renewable energy sources and that is why Power Plants of North Macedonia (ESM) and the Government are in communication with one of the largest U.S. companies for manufacturing and mounting of gas-fired facilities for electricity production, in order to transform the coal-fired Mining and Energy Complex (REK) Bitola, said Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski on Friday.

"For this purpose, the gas link from Zhidilovo to Bitola was completed this year, since this is the only entry point in the country. Construction of the gas pipeline with Greece will begin by the year-end, thus ensuring an additional source. Considering the existing infrastructure, transformer stations and a complete network at REK Bitola, there will be no problem in making this transition," PM Kovachevski told reporters.

He added that photovoltaic power stations will be placed at the site of the REK Bitola old coal extraction areas, which will provide additional electricity.

The PM noted that the country's energy map has significantly improved, with imports reduced by nearly 50 percent.

"We used to import 30-40 percent of the electricity and this has now been reduced to 15-20 percent. There are even months when electricity is not imported at all. This is owed to the increase in production at REK Bitola, REK Oslomej and thermal power station (TEC) Negotino, as well as the new facilities using renewables that are set to reach 600 MW by the end of 2023, which is roughly the same as REK Bitola's capacity" said Kovachevski.

Photo: MIA