Bitola, 5 November 2022 (MIA) — Late on the night of Nov. 4, 1982, the Bitola coal plant produced its first kilowatts of electricity and on Saturday it marked its 40th anniversary with a ceremony attended by top government officials and employees. In his speech at the event, Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski highlighted the importance of the country’s largest power plant. Minister of Economy Kreshnik Bekteshi said domestic electricity production had directly contributed to mitigating the economic crisis. Power Plants of North Macedonia director Vasko Kovachevski said the power plant would remain the pillar of the country’s energy system. He also said the coal plant would be gradually converted to run on natural gas or renewable energy sources “according to plan, in stages that will allow a safe and socially just transition.” The three blocks of the coal-fired plant, he said, would be replaced by a new gas power plant with a capacity of 250 to 400 megawatts and four photovoltaic power plants with a capacity of 280 megawatts, which are to be built near the plant. “In the next decade, this transition should be completed and the production transferred to clean sources. The employees should be reskilled, trained and ready to use the new facilities,” the Power Plants head said. REK Bitola director Pece Matevski stressed the significance of the power plant amid the global energy crisis. The ceremony also included entertainment acts and special awards for employees. mr/