The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the European Union are providing grants for the first large-scale solar power plant in North Macedonia. In June, a grant agreement of 1.5 million euros was signed, financed by bilateral donors of the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF).
This grant complements the 5.9 million euros loan provided by the EBRD and supports the North Macedonian state-owned power utility ESM in financing the final stages of construction of a 10 MW solar power plant at the site of the depleted Oslomej coalmine. The solar power plant has been in trial operation since April last year.
The head of the EBRD office in the country Andi Aranitasi said that the bank wants to continue working with North Macedonia to reduce its dependency on outdated coal infrastructure. After the successful completion of the Oslomej 1 solar power plant, the EBRD is excited to see the Government continue to invest in solar energy, and the bank remains ready to provide support if needed.
In 2019, ESM successfully held the tender for the construction of a 10 MW solar power plant in Oslomej, a project partially funded by the EBRD. In November 2019, ESM and Turkish company Girisim Elektrik signed an agreement on the construction of the solar power plant, which started in late 2020.
The project was supported with a 5.9 million euros loan provided by the EBRD and a grant of 1.6 million euros from bilateral donors to the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF).
