The Minister of Energy, Mining, and Mineral Resources, Sanja Bozhinovska, participated in the Energy Summit in Athens, Greece, where she was a speaker at the panel titled "The Energy Great Game – Geopolitics and the Global Energy Market."
In her address, Minister Bozhinovska emphasized that energy is not just an economic sector, but also a strategic resource, a diplomatic tool, and a security imperative. She highlighted that North Macedonia, as a country at the crossroads of Southeastern Europe, faces challenges and opportunities in the context of global energy shifts.
"Energy is no longer just an economic sector – it is a strategic resource, a diplomatic tool, and a security imperative. Global energy changes have shown that no country can afford full dependence on external sources. The leaders of the 21st century will be those who take decisive steps toward diversifying energy sources, investing in domestic production, and strengthening regional cooperation. North Macedonia was dependent on energy imports, but today we are changing that story. We are investing in renewable sources, building modern energy infrastructure, and creating a legal framework that attracts private capital. Our goal is not just stable energy supply – we want to be an energy-independent country and an active player in the regional energy market."
The Minister presented the country’s efforts to achieve energy independence through investments in renewable energy sources, such as the solar projects "Bitola 1" and "Oslomej 2" with a capacity of 30 MW, which will produce 46 GWh annually, enough for 7,000 households, and reduce CO₂ emissions by 40,000 tons annually. She also mentioned the development of the wind project in Shtip with a capacity of 400 MW.
Bozhinovska stressed the importance of regional cooperation for energy security, highlighting interconnection projects with Greece, which will not only save the country 12 million euros annually but also strengthen the stability of the entire region. She also emphasized legislative reforms in the energy sector, including the new Energy Law, aligned with EU directives, and the Renewable Energy Law, which opens up opportunities for battery storage, decentralized energy production, and smart grid integration.
The Minister concluded her presentation with a call for joint work and partnership to build an energy-secure Europe and a sustainable world.
The Energy Summit in Athens is a leading conference in the energy industry. The Energy Summit (Athens Energy Summit) is held for the 14th time and traditionally brings together global leaders to discuss critical energy-related issues and its future.
On the margins of the Summit in Athens, Minister Bozhinovska held bilateral meetings with the Greek Minister of Environment and Energy, Theodoros Skilakakis, and the Cypriot Minister of Energy, Trade, and Industry, George Papanastasiou.
The focus of the discussions was on the importance of international cooperation to accelerate the energy transition, deepening cooperation in the field of renewable energy, with an emphasis on battery systems, subsidy models for households investing in photovoltaics, and the exchange of experiences in energy regulation.
Minister Papanastasiou invited Minister Bozhinovska for an official visit to Cyprus to deepen bilateral cooperation in the energy sector. As a sign of partnership, Minister Bozhinovska reciprocated with an invitation to continue the dialogue and specify future joint projects.
The ministers confirmed their readiness to further deepen the partnership in key energy projects of regional significance.
Respectfully,
Ministry of Energy, Mining, and Mineral Resources
