REK Bitola's transition puts Pelagonia's economy at a crossroads

The move away from coal at the REK Bitola complex will reshape more than the energy mix — it will change the economy of the wider Pelagonia region, where the power plant has been a long-standing employer and market for many local businesses.

Local authorities and economic actors point to existing industrial infrastructure around Bitola as a potential pivot toward greener employment. "We have the Žabeni Industrial Zone, we have the old industrial zone, we have parts of informal industrial areas in the city. Recently there has been a kind of renaissance in that area, to have green jobs, but also reconstruction of old capacities that are given a new purpose or put back into operation and new jobs are opened," said Borche Dimitrovski, Local Economic and Social Council (LESC) of the Municipality of Bitola.

Today six companies operate inside the Žabeni zone, employing more than 6,000 people from the Pelagonia region. Officials say there are plans both to expand existing capacities and to attract fresh investment into the area.

Financing the transition remains the central uncertainty

"This is the Žabeni industrial zone near Bitola which covers an area of 84 hectares. In conditions of decarbonisation of the region and gradual reduction of dependence on coal, time will show how this potential will be used for Pelagonia's future economic development," Dimitrovski added, underlining the scale of the land available for industrial reuse.

At the same time local representatives warn that a fair transition requires substantial funds. "The six countries that are part of the Western Balkans and that are part of the concept of leaving coal as an energy source do not have access to direct funds and to larger resources. For the transition — fair or energy — to leave as few traces as possible, it is connected to a lot of money. And the EU is not opening that and we have not a very sincere approach in that regard," Dimitrovski said, calling for stronger financial support for regions like Pelagonia.

Stakeholders agree that shifting to green energy must be matched by policies and investments that create new economic opportunities and jobs locally, so the social and economic costs of decarbonisation are mitigated for families and businesses in Bitola and the surrounding municipalities.

Reporter: Emilija Misirlievski
Cameraman: Zlatko Josifovski

Photo: press material from the event