EMV and KEK Reach Three-Year Agreement, North Macedonia to Be Supplied with Coal from Kosovo

North Macedonia’s Power Plants and the Kosovo Energy Corporation have formalized a three-year strategic partnership aimed at guaranteeing an uninterrupted and stable coal supply for thermal power plants in North Macedonia.

Following intensive negotiations and the approval of a government decision, the agreement allows EMV to take the Obiliq mine under concession. Around 3 million tons of coal are expected to be extracted over a 36-month period, at a set price of 24.4 euros per ton.

The general director of AD ESM, Lazo Uzunçev, said that while the mines are being consolidated, the annual amount of purchased coal needed to supplement domestic production is estimated at around 1.4 million tons. However, he explained that capacity constraints at the Bllacë border crossing mean that only around 800,000 tons per year can realistically be secured from KEK.

According to Uzunçev, coal from the Obiliq basin has an average calorific value of approximately 1,950 kcal/kg and is characterized by low sulfur and ash levels. He assessed that these indicators are suitable for the production capacities of the thermal power plants in Manastir and Osllomej.

EMV expects the use of Kosovar coal to improve the efficiency of the thermal power plants and enable the production of around 800 gigawatt-hours of additional electricity per year. This volume is expected to generate revenue of around 57 million euros, alongside a reduction in fuel oil consumption and CO₂ emissions.

Uzunçev also stated that cooperation with Kosovo’s state-owned energy company provides a fast and secure path toward the goal of turning Macedonia into a consistent net exporter of electricity.

AD EMV announced that by the end of August it will launch a tender to select the economic operator that will carry out the extraction, analysis, loading and transportation of coal from Obiliq to the storage facilities of the thermal power plants in Manastir and Osllomej.

The company clarified that the agreement will officially begin to be implemented once the procedure for selecting the economic operator has been completed.