Skopje, 20 November 2024 (MIA) – Lack of fuel at Skopje’s Public Transport Enterprise (JSP) left the country’s capital with only 25 buses operating on Wednesday afternoon, while the rest remained parked in JSP’s garages. 

The head of the independent union of JSP drivers, Afrim Mucha, told MIA that the situation is alarming since almost 70 percent of the Enterprise’s vehicles are not operating due to a lack of fuel.

“I think around 70 percent of JSP’s buses are currently parked in the garages. Very few buses, the ones that were fueled two days ago or use LNG, are currently operating in the city. In order to operate regularly, JSP needs 25 tons of fuel on a daily basis, which we aren’t receiving,” Mucha said, adding that the Enterprise recently hasn’t received deliveries of fuel since it owes a large sum of money.

Mucha said it is possible that there will be no public transport in Skopje on Thursday if JSP fails to receive the required amount of fuel on Wednesday. He underscored that JSP employs 1.500 people and the union will decide on Friday what actions it will take if the situation at the Enterprise doesn’t improve. 

In a press release on Wednesday in response to the situation, the City of Skopje pointed the finger at ruling party VMRO-DPMNE, stressing that the Enterprise’s woes are an “elaborate scenario by VMRO-DPMNE to cause the collapse of the Public Transport Enterprise”.

Photo: MIA Archive