Kovachevski: Defending energy independence is 21st-century patriotism
Skopje, 24 April 2023 (MIA) — Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski, Minister of Economy Kreshnik Bekteshi, Power Plants director Vasko Stefanov, Mining Power Complex Bitola workers and media representatives gathered at the Bitola coal-fired power plant to mark the end of the heating season.
"During the entire heating season, we had electricity and heating with no blackouts," Prime Minister Kovachevski said. "Our increased domestic production brought a stable price. Our plan worked. This is the best way to rebut the darkest scenarios predicted by those critics and quasi-experts to disturb the people."
Amid the global energy crisis, Power Plants supplied citizens with heat and electricity throughout the entire winter season, Kovachevski said.
The government, he added, had prioritized energy transparency and published daily electricity generation statistics over the last six months. Instead of the legally stipulated 60 percent, the national electricity producer covered 100 percent of the energy needs of households and small consumers, he noted. It provided heating for Skopje residents as well.
Highlighting that the energy supply had been "secure, stable and continuous," the prime minister said he was proud of this accomplishment. "We turned the crisis into an opportunity," Kovachevski said.
Also, he said, thanks to the European Union's help of EUR 80 million, consumers did not experience price shocks and their power bills remained the same.
"During the 2022-23 heating season, in the months of October, November, December, January, February, and March, we have had a total domestic electricity production of 2.7 million MWh. Compared to the previous, 2021-22 heating season, electricity production increased by 45 percent," Kovachevski pointed out.
"This is 21st-century patriotism," he continued, praising and thanking the coal-fired power plant workers who "defended the country's energy independence by working with 40-year-old facilities, maintained and overhauled them, and kept them constantly in operation."
According to Kovachevski, interest in renewables is growing. In the 15 months since January 2022, he said, the Energy Regulatory Commission had issued licenses for 400 renewable-energy power plants. This "total installed power of 192 MWh" he said could supply enough energy to meet the needs of 76,000 households in Ohrid, Tetovo, Kratovo, Krushevo, Kriva Palanka, Sveti Nikole, Resen, Dojran, Debar and Vinica.
"And the trend of increasing investments in renewable energy sources will continue," the prime minister said, adding that the country's energy dependence had decreased after electricity imports dropped from 30 percent to 11 percent.
Also speaking at the Bitola event, Minister of Economy Kreshnik Bekteshi said North Macedonia, compared to other countries in the region, had spent the least to deal with the energy crisis.
"Now we face new challenges, which are mainly energy transformation and increasing our energy independence," Bekteshi said. He pledged that the government would continue working hard to increase electricity production from renewables for the country to become more energy independent.
Power Plants director Vasko Stefanov said the government was the employees' ally and praised their expertise, enthusiasm and efforts. The power plant workers also received official certificates of appreciation for their dedication. mr/
