Representatives of the Macedonian Government and the state owned energy company ELEM are trying to negotiate a five year contract with Kosovo, to purchase 3 million tons of coal from that country that will power the REK Bitola and REK Oslomej coal plants in Macedonia.

Domestic electricity production in Macedonia collapsed in the second half of 2021, after years of mismanagement and gross corruption, especially in the key REK Bitola coal mine and thermal plant.

Economy Minister Kreshnik Bekteshi and Imer Zenku, deputy manager of ELEM (ESM) met with the head of the Kosovan Energy Corporation Nagip Krasniqi, to discuss the contract, and the price Kosovo would set for the coal. ELEM tried frantically to purchase coal over the past months, but failed to find sufficient quantities, and Macedonia now largely relies on extremely expensive electricity imports.

The issue of transporting such a large quantity of coal of Kosovo is also being raised. There is a railway link to both Bitola and Kicevo, where REK Oslomej is based, but the coal will have to be transported at least partially by truck, which will add to the price. Transport by truck only is likely to devastate the roads.