The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has allocated nearly €5 million to North Macedonia’s state energy company, ESM, to construct two photovoltaic power plants with a combined capacity of 30 MW on former coal mine sites. The projects, supported under the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF), complement a €25 million loan for Bitola 1 (20 MW) and Oslomej 2 (10 MW). Set for completion by 2026, the plants will produce 46 GWh annually, serving 7,000 households and cutting CO₂ emissions by 40,000 tons.
Energy Minister Sanja Božinovska highlighted the environmental benefits, including the reclamation of 45 hectares near Bitola and Oslomej, enhancing local conditions. The initiative aligns with broader decarbonization efforts, with EBRD’s Fatih Türkmenoğlu emphasizing its role as a model for sustainable energy transitions.
Since 2009, North Macedonia has secured €500 million via WBIF for projects spanning energy, transport, and digitalization, further bolstered by new reform frameworks for a greener future.
