Mickoski: We Are Not Planning to Raise Electricity Prices

North Macedonian Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said the government is not considering raising electricity prices. According to him, a plan is being developed to find a formula that would make it possible to lower the price or, at the very least, expand off-peak tariff hours, unlike most European countries, which are preparing to raise energy tariffs.

Mickoski said the country is successfully managing factors that could affect energy prices, including the crisis in the Persian Gulf and the current water level of the Danube River.

He stressed that the government’s aim is not to cause panic, but to act calmly and through gradual steps that deliver tangible results and improve citizens’ lives.

“At this point, as the irrigation season comes to an end, our reservoirs are around 70 percent full, while we have accumulated nearly 500 gigawatt-hours of electricity. This is entirely sufficient for us to be secure and avoid problems in supplying citizens and industry with electricity,” Mickoski said.

The prime minister also emphasized that the government is making major capital investments in the energy sector. In this context, he mentioned the wind farm project by the company “Alcazar,” which will extend across the municipalities of Shtip, Karbinci and Radovish and will be worth around half a billion dollars over three phases.

“Macedonia is currently secure and stable, while at the same time we are drawing up a plan for the next 10 years. The problems inherited from the past are significant, but we are not giving up and are resolving them,” the prime minister said.

Speaking about fuel prices, Mickoski said North Macedonia has had prices around half a euro lower per liter compared with neighboring countries and that, according to him, this policy is continuing at present. He also referred to the global energy crisis, stressing that the war in the Persian Gulf and the conflict with Iran have placed significant pressure on energy markets.