Skopje, 25 November 2025 (MIA) – Mineral resource exploitation fees hit a record Mden 384 million (€6.25 million) in Q3 2025, more than 2.5 times higher than the Mden 147.7 million (€2.4 million) collected in the same period last year, the Ministry of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources said.

“Collections continued their upward trend with Q1 2025 reaching Mden 260.3 million (€4.23 million), more than double Q1 2024 (Mden 110.6 million, €1.80 million), and Q2 2025 hitting Mden 286.4 million (€4.66 million ), up from Mden 133.6 million (€2.17 million) in the same quarter last year. In total, for the first nine months of 2025, the Ministry collected over Mden 931 million (€15.1 million), marking a historic success in natural resource management and representing over 2.5 times more than the same period in 2024,” Energy Ministry reported.

They stress that the figure is expected to increase, noting that notices have been issued to concession holders who have not yet regulated their obligations, and that non-compliance may result in contract termination for those who do not follow the law.

“The Government, at the proposal of the Ministry of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources, has recently adopted a total of 46 decisions for the unilateral termination of concession agreements for mineral resource exploitation, some of which are due to non-payment of the concession fees according to the established tariff,” Energy Ministry said in a press release.

The Ministry emphasizes that record concession revenues are the direct result of its committed measures to improve fee collection and reinforce oversight of concessionaire obligations, including: strengthened inspections: conducting regular and ad hoc field inspections to guarantee compliance with legal duties; written notices and penalties: notices have been issued to concessionaires for timely fulfillment of obligations, with unilateral contract termination for non-compliance; new tariff effective 1 January 2025: a revised tariff has increased fees by up to 100%, ensuring fair compensation for the use of natural resources. These changes do not apply to energy minerals, such as coal, in order to protect citizens from additional pressure on electricity prices.

Increased collections directly enhance the budgets of municipalities where concessionaires operate, as well as the national budget. These funds are used to expand municipal budgets, invest in public infrastructure, support energy transition and sustainable development projects, and fund environmental protection initiatives. The Ministry of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources remains committed to maintaining the highest standards of transparent and fair management of natural resources. According to the Ministry, these results demonstrate their dedication to maximizing economic benefits from mineral resource exploitation while promoting sustainable development and supporting local communities.

Photo: MIA archive