The Government of North Macedonia said that it has provided additional 11.5 million euros from the 2022 state budget for state-owned power utility ESM in order to increase its electricity generation capacities during the winter season.
Previously in September, the Government allocated 50 million euros for the same purpose. ESM will use the financial aid for the provision of essential raw materials, such as coal and fuel oil, as well as for other purposes related to supporting the uninterrupted production of electricity.
In mid-September, the Government announced that the 30-days state of emergency in the energy sector, which was introduced in late August due to a shortage in the supply of thermal energy used for district heating system in the capital of Skopje, as well as shortage in the supply of electricity, will be extended by the end of April 2023.
The statement from the Government said that the lack of heating energy, the possibility of using alternative fuels and the overall state of the energy market all played a role in adopting the relevant measures.