Investments in the energy network are of great importance for the entire power system and have a direct impact on the access and stability in electricity supply to households in the region, small enterprises, as well as large industrial facilities, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev told Friday’s launch of a new 400/110 kV power transformer at Bitola 2 substation, a EUR 2.4 million investment by the Electricity Transmission System Operator of North Macedonia (MEPSO).
Zaev stressed that continuous investments are made in the country’s energy sector, adding that many projects in the field of energy have already been completed and new ones have been launched, which support the economy, as well as rapid development and better living standards.
He mentioned that earlier this week agreements on investments in Alexandroupolis were signed, by which, according to him, the country is securing the energy future.
“This substation is crucial for the entire power system. This is where the REK Bitola power plant is connected and supplies electricity. This is the starting point of the interconnection transmission line between North Macedonia and Greece. Moreover, with the rehabilitation of the substation, it is the starting point of the interconnection transmission line Bitola-Elbasan, enabling networking with Albania,” Zaev pointed out.
According to him, the interconnection long-distance power transmission line with Albania would contribute to regional integration, and is the last segment in the construction of Corridor 8 connecting Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro and Italy.
North Macedonia, the PM pointed out, has a well-developed network that includes five interconnection points with Bulgaria, Greece and Serbia, while interconnection with Albania was the missing link in the initiative to construct a corridor for electricity transmission in the east-west direction.
Minister of Transport and Communications Blagoj Bochvarski said investments in the electricity transmission system are evidence of strategic decisions in strengthening the electricity sector in the country.
“These investments are important for the overall economic development of the country, which has a key role in the regional energy connection. Hence, this investment is of major importance not only for the Bitola and the Pelagonia region, but the entire country and the entire energy sector,” Bochvarski said, adding that this was a clear message to all current and future investors.
He noted that MEPSO’s overall investments exceed EUR 100 million in all segments, from reconstruction and modernization of substations to construction of new transmission lines.
MEPSO director Kushtrim Ramadani noted that the new 400/110 kV transformer, manufactured by Slovenia’s Kolektor-ETRA, was being installed to replace the old one that has been in operation since 1982.
