Bitola, 12 January 2023 (MIA) – All electricity producing capacities in the country are operational. Citizens should remain calm, electricity will be provided without any restrictions and the price will not be raised, said Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski on Thursday during his visit to power-mining complex (REK) Bitola.

PM Kovachevski said all of the Government’s efforts were aimed at tackling the energy crisis and the results are evident.

The PM, accompanied by Minister of Economy Kreshnik Bekteshi and ESM Director General Vasko Kovachevski, stressed that REK Bitola is working at full capacity, with all three blocs operational, and noted that REK Oslomej, thermal power plant (TEC) Negotino, the gas power plants in Skopje and all state-owned hydro power plants are currently operational as well.

“We managed to activate all capacities for domestic production of electricity, and the price of electricity will not be increased. The result of our commitment to tackle the crisis is a secure and stable supply of electricity to everyone in the country,” Kovachevski said.

Minister Bekteshi said they have invalidated all claims made by some politicians who said that it isn’t possible to have all capacities operational, and that the price of electricity will be raised.

“With round-the-clock work and full confidence, together with the Prime Minister we have managed to deal with the energy crisis in less than a year. For the first time on record, all state capacities are operational and this is a great achievement not only for the Government, but also for all ESM employees. This invalidates all claims made by politicians, among whom some electrical engineers, who failed to achieve this, but this team did,” stressed Bekteshi.

Director Kovachevski also pointed out that ESM has activated all state-owned capacities.

“This means that with all the capacities connected to the grid, daily production is nearing 20.000 MWh. This rising trend is close to the production figures achieved during REK Bitola and ESM’s best years and when the plants were newer. With this daily figure we are meeting everyone’s needs,” said Kovachevski.