A session was held by the Commission for Monitoring the Electricity Supply Situation. The meeting was attended by members of the Commission from the Ministry of Energy, the Energy Regulatory Commission, and representatives from energy companies such as AD ESM, MEMO LLC Skopje, ESM Energetika, EVN Home LLC, and TE-TO AD Skopje.
Several important topics related to the electricity sector were discussed at the session, with special emphasis on the current state of electricity supply in the country. Commission members were informed about the challenges with thermal power plants, especially REK Bitola and TPP Oslomej. REK Bitola is currently operating with two blocks, consuming an average of 12,500 tons of coal daily. TPP Oslomej is facing a shortage of quality coal. As a result of the previous management’s use of low-quality coal, operations at this plant have been halted. Consequently, a tender was published for the procurement of 400,000 tons of coal, which must arrive at the depot for operations to resume.
Additionally, the current situation of hydro accumulations was presented, which are at 10% of capacity—significantly below the multi-year average for this time of year. This situation, combined with possible outages at thermal power plants, raises serious concerns about the stability of the national electricity grid, especially during winter when energy consumption is expected to rise.
The situation in the southwestern part of the country is being carefully monitored, where there is a risk of overloading the transmission network in case of unavailability of key blocks in REK Bitola and TPP Oslomej, as well as the potential for heavy snowfall. Various scenarios are being analyzed to avoid possible crisis situations typical for this time of year, along with protective measures, while the situation continues to be closely followed.
The session also addressed issues related to the electricity market. In November 2024, the average energy price on the market in North Macedonia was €165/MWh, which is roughly aligned with prices in the region. For January 2025, increased consumption and the need for additional procurement is expected, particularly for EVN Home, whose annual consumption level has increased compared to last year.
In an effort to ensure a secure electricity supply during the winter period, MEPSO, together with other relevant institutions and companies, is taking measures to improve infrastructure and resolve system malfunctions. A particularly important project is the installation of a new transformer at TS Bitola 2, which is expected to help stabilize supply in the region.
The session of the Commission was an important step in coordinating measures to stabilize the electricity sector, which faces increased risks during the winter due to higher consumption and potential weather-related disruptions.
The Commission will continue to hold regular meetings and conduct analyses, especially during periods of increased pressure on the energy system, in order to identify potential risks and propose timely solutions.