Skopje, 10 January 2022 (MIA) – Electricity producer Power Plants of North Macedonia (ESM) has the task of ensuring production in all capacities at disposal. Energy-mining company (REK) Bitola is operating with two blocs, the third one is to be online shortly, Oslomej thermal plant is operational, cogeneration power plant KOGEL is also working, and the second boiler at Negotino thermal plant will also be made available, thus meeting the citizens energy needs, said PM-designate Dimitar Kovachevski on Monday. Kovachevski told reporters that the Government also cut the VAT rate for electricity from 18 to 5 percent during the initial hit of the energy crisis. “The funds transferred to ESM are used for procurement of raw materials and purchase of electricity if needed, in order to balance and meet the requirements of the market,” noted Kovachevski. On the issue of heating, the PM-designate said the entire infrastructure is in the jurisdiction of the City of Skopje. “The City of Skopje should be aware they are supposed to have measures in place, an aspect they obviously have not taken into consideration. Nevertheless, the Government’s economic team has already met and concluded that all state institutions are already paying heating at market prices, namely the price for the gas procured by the Skopje system operator BEG. In addition, the Ministry of Finance has secured funds from the Development Bank of North Macedonia for BEG to procure gas quantities,” explained Kovachevski. Being a private company, BEG should offer a guarantee in order to secure the loan, but if it fails to do this, then the Government is mulling the option of temporary takeover of operations of Skopje heating companies. “The Government will not leave citizens without heating in winter,” underlined Kovachevski.