Mickoski warns of hard energy period — government plans Kosovo coal imports and Negotino restart
The government plans a special border crossing for daily convoys of about 200 trucks and aims to cut generation costs under €200/MWh by restarting Negotino.
Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski warned that North Macedonia faces a deepening energy crisis and a difficult period ahead, and announced that the government is developing a new business model for the state power producer ESM. The plan centers on importing coal from Kosovo to run all three units at REK Bitola and on restarting the Negotino thermal plant.
As evidence of a worsening crisis, Mickoski pointed to gas reserves in Europe that are, in his assessment, below 50 percent, and to rising prices of gas and electricity. He also said growing investment in data centers is increasing electricity demand at a time when supply is constrained.
Logistics and scale of the coal import plan
To supply REK Bitola, the government envisages a dedicated border crossing where the Army and Customs would be engaged in operations. The estimate is that around 200 trucks could cross daily, carrying more than 6,000 tonnes of coal per day. The stated objective is for ESM to secure steady output from the three Bitola units, and the plan also counts on production at REK Oslomej.
Mickoski said a tender to select who will perform the mining and transport is to be completed "by the end of the month." The measure is presented as part of a push to increase domestic generation as market prices remain elevated.
In the second pillar of the plan, the government would restart the Negotino thermal power plant using fuel oil transported from Thessaloniki. According to Mickoski's calculations, with the plant restarted ESM could produce electricity at a cost below 200 euros per megawatt-hour, compared with current exchange prices of 350–400 euros per MWh.
Officials will face practical and political hurdles implementing the proposal: arranging a new border procedure, organising large daily convoys of coal, and securing fuel deliveries for Negotino. Mickoski framed the measures as necessary steps to bolster domestic generation during what he described as an intensifying European energy crunch.
Photo: press material from the event
