Page 119 - SE Outlook Regions 2023

In October 2022, North Macedonia put into operation a 17-MW
photovoltaic power plant in the eastern part of the country, an
investment by Slovenian energy company GEN-I.

This is the biggest photovoltaic plant in North Macedonia. With the
project, GEN-I is considerably expanding its portfolio of renewable
energy, setting the path for the green transformation in the region.

The government recently approved permits for the construction of three
wind power plants with a total installed capacity of 11 MW to private
investors of which the first wind park, Bogoslovec, should officially start
operating as early as in 2023.

At the end of November, the construction works on the 92-km gas
pipeline section Negotino-Kavadarci-Bitola in North Macedonia, a
project worth €36mn, was completed, part of the gasification network.

The country's gasification will be of great importance in terms of
economic recovery, reduction of air pollution and cheaper energy for
citizens and companies.

On this section, the planned interconnecting gas pipeline with Greece,
that will run the 67 km from Negotino to the Greek border, will be built.

The last section of the primary pipeline network,
Skopje-Tetovo-Gostivar with a length of 76 km, is in the final stage and
is expected to be completed soon.

North Macedonia will also be able to procure natural gas from several
sources via Bulgaria after the gas companies of the two countries
signed an agreement on intersystem connection on October 31 in
Sofia.

Before the sanctions on Moscow, North Macedonia had been receiving
only Russian gas via Bulgaria. The agreement, which is in line with the
EU directives, will increase competition in the gas market and will stop
the monopoly role of some companies in North Macedonia.

In 2022, 80 MW of solar power plants were built in North Macedonia,
and it is expected that by the end of 2023, around 300 MW of
photovoltaic power plants will be installed in the energy system.

The strategy for energy development until 2040, based on the
European Green Deal, envisages the construction of over 1,500 MW of
photovoltaic power plants, over 700 MW of wind power plants and over
500 MW of large hydropower plants.

In the context of the energy crisis, Finance Minister Fatmir Besimi said
that the projects for increasing the domestic electricity production and
securing stable supply are also important.

In that regard, the government expects financial support from the
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) of €16mn
for the construction of the gas interconnector with Greece.

119 SE Outlook 2023 www.intellinews.com