North Macedonia plans to open a new border crossing with Kosovo

A new crossing point between North Macedonia and Kosovo is expected to be used to transport coal imported from Kosovo. Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski announced the plan at a press conference today, explaining that it concerns a crossing point once used by KFOR.

Mickoski said that, to increase electricity production by ESM, the Negotino and Oslomej thermal power plants are to be brought into operation.

According to him, the dedicated border crossing will be used only by trucks transporting coal. The plan calls for 200 trucks to pass through this crossing and another 60 to use the Blace crossing.

More than 6,000 tons of coal are needed to keep the three units at the Bitola thermal power plant running, the prime minister said.

Mickoski warned that electricity prices could rise, but said the increase is not expected to exceed 5%. He added that the tender for coal extraction in Kosovo should close by the end of this month and said he expects the process to be completed without problems.

The energy crisis has continued since the end of February, while gas reserves in Europe have fallen to 50%. Water levels in rivers are low, and major investments in data centers have increased electricity demand. In the EU, electricity and gas prices have risen by 3 to 3.5 times. Mickoski said all these measures are being taken in the country to avoid a price increase.