Future of energy independence is in renewable energy sources, says Kovachevski
Skopje, 24 November 2022 (MIA) – North Macedonia, together with Greece and Bulgaria, is working on the construction of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Alexandroupolis, which will provide additional diversification of gas supply and enable its arrival from other countries, including the United States, Qatar, Algeria, said Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski.
According to him, the future for both energy transformation and energy independence is in renewable energy sources.
In response to a question from SDSM MP Lolita Ristova, the Prime Minister pointed out that no investment has been made in any energy capacity in the country for thirty years, and no investment has been made in the electricity transmission network in the country either. According to him, those are the two areas in which major investments must be made.
“The war in Ukraine has changed the priorities of the countries in the world and in Europe, and energy has become one of the key topics on which the whole world is focused. This war has forced us to think long-term about solutions that will enable us to deal with the energy crisis, which has affected Europe and the world in the past year, but also to discuss short-term measures to manage the crisis,” said Kovachevski.
According to the PM, this is an excellent opportunity to use the green energy resources available to the countries of the Balkan Peninsula, particularly North Macedonia, as well as an excellent opportunity to develop the entire region as a new energy force.
“The biggest blow to the electricity market came after the war in Ukraine, which caused a shortage of energy in Europe, primarily gas, on which both the production of electricity and the supply of electricity depend. In such conditions, and amid interconnected crises, our activities should be based on three principles - cooperation, investment and solidarity. The energy crisis, which is the biggest, affects the economy, the business sector, and the citizens,” Kovachevski noted.
He stressed that the region could overcome the energy crisis only with a closely coordinated approach to energy diversification, as well as by accelerating and introducing capacities for energy production from renewable energy sources, and energy sources for basic energy, i.e. new energy capacities.
Kovachevski said negotiations with several strategic investors are at a stage of being finalized, regarding an installed capacity of up to one gigabyte of energy from renewable sources for the construction of photovoltaic power plants, wind power plants, as well as a combined gas power plant with renowned European companies from France, Germany and Greece.
“During my mandate, we have launched 27 MW of photovoltaic power plants in the country, which is 11 MW more than what was done in the 11 years of the former government. It is clear that in times of crisis, I see a possibility of turning our country into a center for green energy, which will supply electricity not only to our market, but also to the region and beyond,” Kovachevski added.
