Sveti Nikole, 5 June 2024 (MIA) - EU Ambassador to North Macedonia David Geer, Deputy Ambassador of Germany to North Macedonia, Otto Graf, and representatives of the Green for Growth Fund (GGF) officially opened the first wind park in Bogoslovec, near Sveti Nikole. The project was developed by THOR Impex, worth EUR 61 million, and is the first wind park in the country, which can also power 20,000 households with a capacity of 36 MW. 

EU Ambassador David Geer said that he is hoping that the first private wind park investment can be the beginning of many more investments in clean energy and sustainable economic growth. 

“The Western Balkans has huge natural advantages in the area of wind, solar and hydro energy, and huge opportunity for private investment, complementing and exceeding the investments from EU and other partners. What's important is that the authorities and private industries work hand-in-hand and constructively to ensure that the renewable energy sector maximizes this potential. And this project shows how this can be done, bringing together local and EU companies and banks. The benefits will be long lasting both for the environment and citizens. This project, alone, will decrease yearly CO2 emissions by 800.000 tons and can provide clean energy for over 20,000 households," Geer stressed. 

Deputy Ambassador of Germany to North Macedonia, Otto Graf noted that the Bogoslovec wind park is an important step in making renewable energy sources a huge part of the energy supply in the country. 

"This private investment shows that investments in renewable energy sources are not only possible with public funds and state support, but also thorough private initiatives as a business, and I think this is a huge step forward in making renewable energy sources a huge part of the energy supply in North Macedonia," Graf said. 

Mihajlo Mihajlovski from THOR Impex added that they already have a vision for investing in a new project and that he hopes the second wind-park "Bogoslovec 2" will open in a year and a half. 

"What is especially important when it comes to Macedonian investments and Macedonian capital, which will remain in the country, is that it creates additional value and can be the source of future investment projects," Mihajlovski noted. 

GGF representatives stated that the project illustrates the entrepreneurial and innovative spirit in the coming years if we want to meet the country's goals for its energy sector. 

"I say 'we' speaking as GGF chairman which considers itself to be integral to the region, and North Macedonia's prosperity. GGF is an impact investment vehicle that has been active in the Balkans for 15 years and has managed to build a close link in the entire region in support of the development of clean energy and climate action,” said GGF Chairperson Chris Knowles. 

GGF director Borislav Kostadinov added that just as the GGF has had the opportunity to play a catalytic role as investor in the realization of the Bogoslavec Wind Park, the German Government and European Commission are catalytic investors in the fund itself.  

This project is supported by Erste Group, Komercijalna Banka, NLB Banka Skopje, Sparkasse Bank Skopje in the amount of EUR 41 million, as well as the Development Bank of Austria (OeEB) with EUR 10 million.

The project worth EUR 61 million was built near the village Bogoslovec, 80 km from Skopje. Construction began in 2021 and recently Siemens Gamesa installed 8 wind turbines with a total capacity of 36 MW. ssh/ad/

Photo: MIA