The Government of North Macedonia has enacted a decree allowing the National Electricity Market Operator (MEMO) to issue guarantees of origin (GOs) for electricity. This move comes as Western Balkan countries face tight deadlines to align with the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which will begin imposing a tax on imports of certain goods starting January 1, 2026. This includes sectors such as cement, iron and steel, aluminum, fertilizers, hydrogen, and electricity.
Under the new regulations, non-EU countries can exempt all electricity from the CBAM until 2030 if they integrate their electricity markets with the EU. Additionally, exports of carbon-free electricity from renewable sources can be certified with GOs.
The decree empowers MEMO, a subsidiary of the country’s transmission system operator MEPSO, to issue electronic documents that confirm the share or amount of electricity produced from renewable sources. MEMO will establish and maintain a register for these guarantees, ensuring proper registration of transfers and subsequent cancellation to verify the consumption of renewable electricity.
The Ministry of Energy, Mining, and Minerals highlighted the significance of these guarantees, particularly for domestic companies exporting to the European market. “They will be able to demonstrate their use of clean energy, thereby reducing their carbon footprint,” the ministry stated.
MEMO also recently became an observer in the Association of Issuing Bodies (AIB), a Brussels-based organization that standardizes GOs, marking a significant step towards full membership.
In the broader region, Montenegro has also regulated guarantees of origin with a new law enacted in August. The transitional period for the rollout of the CBAM began one year ago, and both importers and foreign producers of designated raw materials are striving to comply with the new legal requirements. The EU introduced this mechanism to protect its economy from imports from countries with less stringent carbon pricing, which will also encompass indirect emissions related to electricity consumption. Future phases of the CBAM may extend the levy to manufactured goods as well.
