Authorities say global energy crisis won't affect power production this winter

Authorities from the national power company say repairs at the Suvodol mine and ongoing maintenance at REK Bitola and Oslomej TPP will not endanger electricity production during the coming winter, despite higher seasonal demand and the global energy crisis.

Thermal plants to carry the base load

ESM officials stressed that thermal capacities — primarily the units at Bitola and the Oslomej plant — will assume the key role in covering demand. REK Bitola will operate with a single block until early November, when the second block is expected to be brought back online as temperatures fall. Depending on colder weather and consumption trends, Oslomej and a third block at Bitola will be added to the grid.

“The focus will be on thermal generation. The two blocks at Bitola will be in operation. Let us not forget that REK Oslomej will already be ready to be connected to the grid on the 5th because it is coming out of overhaul. So we will secure base energy through production in the three blocks — the two in Bitola and one in Kichevo. The third in Bitola will be used as needed, switched on according to consumer demand peaks,” said Lazo Uzunchev, general director of ESM.

Officials say coal stocks are sufficient and that repairs at the Suvodol mine to prevent a landslide will be completed. If required, additional coal can be imported from Kosovo under an agreement with Kosovo Energy Corporation (KEK) for roughly 3 million tonnes of extraction.

“At the moment our coal is secured through extraction in the two Bitola mines. Although work is under way at Suvodol, it will be finished within no more than a month from today, when we will maximize daily extraction. At present we also have three contracts with suppliers from mines in Greece. For the upcoming heating season we have relatively solid quantities of coal to rely on,” Uzunchev added.

Hydropower reservoirs currently sit at 43 percent capacity and ESM says they will be reserved for extreme needs in January and February because they are crucial for balancing the grid. Separately, the third phase of a revitalization programme for six large hydroelectric plants is underway, with €46 million invested to install new equipment that is expected to yield almost 50 gigawatts per year and bring an estimated €5 million in additional annual revenue.

Photo: press material from the event