North Macedonia’s reservoirs are approximately 70% full, providing sufficient stored water to maintain planned hydropower production and support the stability of the national electricity system.
The Ministry of Energy said reservoir management continues to follow operating plans that balance near-term generation with the need to preserve water for later periods. This discipline is important because hydropower provides both electricity and ancillary services, including rapid balancing and frequency support.
Official data show that North Macedonia generated 462,653MWh of electricity in May 2026, covering approximately 96.5% of domestic demand. The figures point to a substantially stronger domestic supply position than in periods when the country has been forced to rely heavily on regional imports.
State-owned producer ESM reported that hydropower generation increased by 76% year on year, while wind production rose by approximately 10%. The higher hydro output reflects improved water availability and operational planning, although reservoir preservation will remain important through the rest of the summer.
A 70% filling level provides meaningful flexibility but should not be interpreted as surplus water available for unrestricted generation. Reservoir value depends on seasonal inflows, electricity-price expectations, environmental obligations and the need to maintain reserves for winter demand.
Hydropower has particular commercial value during peak-price hours because generation can be dispatched rapidly. Preserving water for these periods can produce higher revenue than operating continuously when regional solar production depresses daytime prices.
The Ministry said it remains in coordination with ESM and the country’s power-system institutions to monitor weather forecasts, reservoir levels and hydrological conditions. That monitoring is becoming more important as heatwaves and irregular rainfall create wider differences between wet and dry years.
North Macedonia’s stronger hydrological position provides a useful buffer against regional volatility. It also allows the country to reduce expensive imports during scarcity hours and potentially increase exports when neighbouring markets experience evening deficits.
