At today's 121st session, the Government gave consent to "Power Plants of Northern Macedonia" (ESM) to activate the TPP "Negotino" for temporary additional production of electricity in conditions of energy crisis.

- The Government agreed to conclude an agreement for business and technical cooperation between AD "ESM" and AD TEC "Negotino" for the supply of fuel oil and electricity production, in the period December 2021 - April 2022, with the possibility of further cooperation if for it needs. According to this agreement, which will regulate the rights and obligations of both parties, JSC "ESM" will procure the necessary amount of fuel oil for the operation of TPP "Negotino" and will take over the entire electricity produced, said the government press service.

They add that the generated electricity in TPP "Negotino", ESM will use in part for the needs of supply of households and small consumers in cases of shortages, part will offer for the needs of AD "MEPSO", while the excess electricity, " ESM Sales ”through the Chamber of Commerce will offer it for sale on the free market to domestic businesses, at prices lower than the prices on the stock exchange.

The Government of Northern Macedonia, as informed from there, will assist in the procurement of fuel oil needed for a period of one month, in which ESM will participate with its own funds.

- The working capital that will be realized with the production of electricity in the first month, will be used by AD "ESM" for procurement of fuel oil for further production, if needed, added the Government.

This decision, as pointed out by the Government, will enable strengthening of the domestic electricity system, increase of domestic electricity production, and thus increase of GDP, and TPP "Negotino" which was a cold reserve for 12 years, will be put into operation and will make an economic contribution to the state energy companies and the economy in conditions of global energy crisis.

- The price of electricity on the stock exchanges is growing daily and currently amounts to 283 euros per megawatt hour. With the current regulated price of fuel oil of 36 denars per kilogram, the production price of TPP "Negotino", if it works with one boiler will be around 175 euros per megawatt hour, while if it works with two boilers it will be around 150 euros per megawatt hour, say from the government press service.

TPP "Negotino" has a total available production capacity of 180 megawatts, which is approximately one block of REK "Bitola".

The state-owned oil-fired thermal power plant was built in 1978 and last operated in 2009. The entire process of restarting TPP "Negotino" will be subject to a trial period and checking all functionalities of the equipment, announced the Government.