Skopje, 11 May 2026 (MIA) – Macedonia is no longer a passive observer in energy processes, but an active player creating its own policies and positioning itself as relevant and stable partner in the region, Minister of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources, Sanja Bozhinovska said during a panel on energy transition and regional cooperation at the Belgrade Energy Forum 2026, one of the region’s most significant energy events.

“The energy crisis was a clear signal that energy security and the transition must go hand in hand. Macedonia has fundamentally redefined its approach to energy – from passive market monitoring to active planning, investment and development,” Bozhinovska said at the Belgrade Energy Forum 2026, where ministers, representatives of the Energy Community, international institutions and leading experts discussed energy security, decarbonisation and the future of the regional energy sector.

She noted that with the new Energy Law, adopted in 2025, the country introduced systematic planning and a predictable framework for investors, significantly accelerating the investment cycle in renewable energy sources.

She noted that electricity production from solar energy has increased nearly 50 times compared to 2016.

In her address, she also underscored major state investments through ESM, particularly the project for the construction of photovoltaic power plants at REK Bitola and REK Oslomej, describing them as a symbol of a just energy transition and the transformation of former coal capacities into sources of clean energy, the Ministry of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources said in a press release.

Bozhinovska highlighted energy diversification and regional connectivity, noting that Macedonia is developing gas interconnections with Greece and Serbia to access new gas sources and LNG terminals, while also strengthening electricity links with neighbouring countries.

Referring to European policies and the CBAM mechanism, Bozhinovska noted that the country has already introduced a system of Guarantees of Origin for electricity, which will allow Macedonian companies to become more competitive and gain easier access to the European market.

“Our vision is for Macedonia to become a country with a decarbonised, digitalized and regionally integrated energy system, with significantly higher domestic production of clean energy. Regional cooperation today is not a choice, but a necessity for a stable and secure energy future,” she noted.

During the forum, Bozhinovska also held several bilateral meetings with regional institutions, companies and international partners, focused on new investments, energy connectivity and deepening regional cooperation in the energy sector.

Photo: Ministry of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources