N. Macedonia's ESM to build 1,000 MW of PV capacity in energy transition push

North Macedonia's state-owned electricity company ESM plans to build 1,000 MW of photovoltaic (PV) power capacity in the long term under a strategy to shift electricity generation to renewable sources, ESM general manager Vasko Kovacevski said on Tuesday.

The photovoltaic power plants will be built either as a direct investment by ESM or as part of a public-private partnership, Kovacevski said in a press release.

"Over 70% of our production currently comes from coal, and it is a great imperative for us to implement a rapid energy transition, but one that must be fair, namely employees to stay in the company with tasks appropriate to the change in production. We are working on expanding our production portfolio, primarily in the area of renewable energy sources," Kovacevski said.

North Macedonia's government in June signed contracts with Bulgarian solar energy group Solarpro Holding and Turkish Fortis Energy Electric for the construction of 100 MW of photovoltaic capacity worth 70 million euro ($82.7 million). Each of the companies will build one solar power plant with an installed capacity of 50 MW at the location of an old mine in Oslomej as part of a public-private partnership (PPP) with state-owned electricity company ESM, the government said at the time.

($ = 0.8467 euro)

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