Skopje, 18 November 2025 (MIA) — The government has approved a plan by the Ministry of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources to retrofit public buildings to improve their energy efficiency. The plan will be implemented between 2025 and 2028 in coordination with 33 various institutions, the ministry said in a press release.

"This strategic document stems from the reform agenda and our legal obligation to reconstruct at least 3% of the total usable floor area of ​​public buildings each year," the release said. 

It said 14 public buildings with a total usable floor area of ​​102,992 m2 would be retrofitted to reduce their energy demands and carbon emissions. The buildings are used by 33 state institutions employing more than 5,000 people. 

The plan prioritizes buildings in the worst condition, such as the Ministry of Health, the State Statistical Office, the Agency for Real Estate Cadastre and the Hydrometeorological Service, the release said.

Other buildings to be retrofitted include the one that houses the Ministry of Economy and Labor and the Nova Makedonija building, which houses a slew of government ministries.

The upgrades will include installing external thermal insulation, new windows, photovoltaics and solar water heating systems.

"These interventions are aimed at drastically reducing public sector energy costs, which have been traditionally high," the release said, adding that carbon emissions were expected to be cut by 29%. 

The upgrades, estimated to cost EUR 11.11 million, are also "an important step in the transposition of European ​​energy efficiency legislation (Directive 2018/2002/EU and Regulation 2018/1999/EU)" in line with the country's obligations to the Energy Community, the release said. mr/