Over €18 million for coal and ESM's ambitious plan

ESM announced an ambitious production plan: from domestic capacities it is forecast to deliver a little over 4,300 gigawatt-hours of electricity, a figure that is heating the public debate after last year’s failure.

In 2025 management had even higher targets — the plan envisaged state power plants producing a little over 5,000 gigawatt-hours. As the end of 2025 showed, those expectations were not realized: the year closed with the lowest production in the past decade.

Hydro and procurement in the spotlight

In parts of last year electricity from hydropower plants was used as the main energy source due to improved weather conditions and higher generation. Now the question remains whether in the coming winter, after the start of the heating season, water will again be able to cover the deficit or ESM will have to rely on purchases that in recent years have cost around €100 million annually.

Meanwhile, within less than two months the company signed three contracts to procure about 350,000 tonnes of coal for the needs of REK Bitola, for which it will pay over €18 million.

Part of the contracted quantities will be delivered by the already well-known Greek company Protergia, but a new name also enters the scene — ENERDZI MAKS. That firm has existed since 2022, its business took off last year, and in 2025 it had two employees.

Analysts and company representatives point out that the problems are systemic: the mines are being exhausted and therefore an increasing share of coal is sourced from abroad, and the poor quality of some delivered consignments requires the addition of fuel oil (mazut) during production to keep the thermal power plants running.

The question now is whether the state power plants' ambitious plan will be achieved or whether new weather, technical, or procurement obstacles will again prevent the targets from being met.

Photo: press material from the event