The government of North Macedonia has declared a state of crisis in the electricity supply across the country, due to serious difficulties in procuring fuel oil from Greece. The measure will remain in force for seven days and allows the use of state fuel reserves.
According to an official statement issued after a cabinet meeting, the decision was taken because the inability to secure fuel oil directly affects electricity production. The state reserves will be made available without compensation, while the state-owned power company ESM is required to submit reports to the government and the Ministry of Finance on fuel consumption.
In recent days, ESM had requested the declaration of a state of crisis, citing major problems in the supply of both fuel oil and lignite from Greece. The company attributed these difficulties to border blockades caused by farmers’ protests, which have disrupted the transport of key energy resources.
Most of North Macedonia’s electricity production comes from facilities operated by the state-owned company ESM, which rely mainly on lignite and fuel oil as energy sources.
