The Government of North Macedonia has declared a seven-day state of energy crisis due to disruptions in electricity supply caused by interruptions in oil deliveries from Greece.
The measure allows the state-owned electricity company ESM to use mandatory state oil reserves without compensation, the government said in a statement.
“This decision was taken due to the inability to secure oil supplies, which are essential for electricity production. State oil reserves will be transferred without compensation, and ESM is obliged to report to the Government and the Ministry of Finance on fuel consumption,” the government in Skopje stated following a cabinet meeting on Monday.
ESM had requested the declaration of a crisis, citing difficulties in securing lignite and oil supplies from Greece.
The company attributed the disruptions to blockades imposed by Greek farmers at border crossings with North Macedonia, which have affected the supply of key energy resources used in electricity generation.
According to ESM, declaring a state of crisis was necessary to enable the use of state reserves and to ensure sufficient energy production until border crossings resume normal operations.
The majority of electricity in North Macedonia is generated by ESM-operated thermal power plants, which rely on lignite and oil.
Following the crisis declaration, Bulgaria offered emergency oil supplies to North Macedonia, according to the Bulgarian government’s information service.
The offer was conveyed during a phone call between Bulgarian Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev and his North Macedonian counterpart Timčo Mucunski, according to reports.
