Skopje, 10 February 2023 (MIA) — National electricity production has increased in response to growing demand for heating power prompted by the plummeting temperatures, but the national energy emergency order will stay in place until it is lifted by the state, Power Plants of North Macedonia head Vasko Kovachevski said when asked by a reporter why the energy emergency was still ongoing despite the increased electricity output.

According to Kovachevski, the national electricity producer had increased its output to meet the energy needs of small consumers and keep their power bills down as well as to reduce electricity imports.

Additionally, the increased production was aimed at preventing an energy price hike between July and December, he said. “If we continue with this kind of production, I hope that we will fully fulfill our plan of an output 23 percent higher than last year.”  

The energy crisis is still going on not only in North Macedonia but also in the region and across Europe, he said, pointing out that it was up to the Government and Parliament to decide when to lift the energy emergency order.

The Power Plants director also said no one was abusing the crisis and added that inspectors were welcome to check procedures.

Speaking about the national electricity output, he said it was 21,611 MWh on Thursday, which he noted was the highest daily production in the last decade. 

“Between Jan. 1 and Feb. 8, 2023, Power Plants produced 720,369 MWh of electricity,” Kovachevski said, highlighting that this was an output 40 percent higher compared to the same period last year, and 86 percent more than the same period in 2021. 

“As of yesterday, our production plan for 2023 is being fulfilled by 102.3 percent,” he said.

He also said Power Plants had sufficient supplies of coal, crude oil and gas as well as regular daily deliveries from its suppliers. mr/