Skopje, 5 January 2024 (MIA) – Daily average concentrations of suspended particles up to 10 micrometers were higher than the value limit in Centar, Gazi Baba, Karposh, Lisiche, Rektorat, Gjorche Petrov, Mladinovci, Bitola 2, Kichevo, Tetovo, Gostivar, Prilep, Ohrid, Veles 2, Kavadarci, Strumica, and Berovo, State Environment Inspectorate director Sreten Stojkovski told a press conference Friday.

Average daily concentrations of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide and ozone were within the value limit at all measuring stations in the country, he said.

Stojkovski added that the State Environmental Inspectorate acted exclusively according to the guidelines set by the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning on ambient air quality, as the only official reports in the country.

When an accredited environmental laboratory Euromak Kontrol measured the concentration of dust with a particle size of 10 µm (PM10) emitted into the environment, on Dec. 18-19, the measurements were within acceptable limits, Stojkovski said.

On Dec. 19, 2023 AD IGM Elenica Strumica and Euromak Kontrol carried out measurements and analysis on the concentration of polluting substances and solid particles (chimney/emitter) emitted into the environment during operation of the tunnel furnace at Elenica, but the results still have not been submitted to Elenica. However, the firm has closed as of Dec. 29, 2023.

Stojkovski said that an emergency inspection supervision from the continuous monitoring system determined that USJE cement plant did not exceed the value limit in all emission points in the process and at the boiler house. He said that as of Jan. 1, only furnace number 4 had been operating, while furnace number 3 was not in use due to repairs.

Following a report by a citizen from Gjorche Petrov Municipality, it was determined that a defect was found in a heating boiler at the premises of the public transport enterprise (JSP) in Gjorche Petrov, Skopje.

"The boiler was serviced. Emissions were measured at the start of 2024. Results are pending," Stojkovski said. ssh/mr