IPA funds 1.674.000 euro to reform the Energy Department in Macedonia

Minister of Economy Valon Saraqini today with his address marked the beginning of the IPA project “Strengthening the administrative capacities of the Energy Department in the Ministry of Economy and the Energy Agency“. With the Agreement signed on June 28, 2013, which will be realised in a period of two years, the Ministry of Economy will obtain technical assistance from АТC Consultants GmBH (Austria), which is in consortium with Energy Institute Hrvoje Pozar (Croatia), Norsk Energi (Norway), Centre for Renewable Energy Sources and Savings (Greece) and European Profiles S.A (Greece) in order to realise the four components of the Project of which the first and the last one are directly related to the improvement of the institutional capacity and functionality of the Energy Department, i.e. the Energy Agency, in the field of policies for energy efficiency and renewable energy sources, and the other two components have wider objectives. At the event also addressed the Project Director Gordana M. Jurukovska and the representative of EU Delegation, Elizabeta Gorgieva.

“With the realization of this IPA Project, worth 1.674.000 EUR, stable legal and regulatory framework will be provided that will attract investments in the energy sector and will contribute to economic development and social stability in the country”, pointed out Saraqini.

Minister Saraqini explained that the second component will mean increasing the degree of harmonisation with the Acquis, and the third one will enable development of key strategic documents that are important for the further improvement of the energy sector.

“The realization of these four components will enable creation of a more competitive electricity market and its integration in the regional and European energy market”, said Saraqini.

Gordana M. Jurukovska, representative of АТC Consultants from Austria, and at the same time Project Director, pointed out that today begins a very important project that is implemented in many countries, which will improve the condition in the Energy Department in the Ministry of Economy and the Energy Agency.

“The Consultants that have been very carefully selected will work hard on this Project in order to transfer their knowledge and we will start that today”, said Jurukovska.

“The Republic of Macedonia has joined the Energy Community in 2006 and has committed to fulfill the ambitious requirements regarding the harmonisation of the national legislation with the Acquis, as well to strengthen the capacities in the Energy Department”, pointed out Elizabeta Gorgieva, representative of the EU Delegation in Macedonia, adding that the European Union will continue to be a dedicated partner to the Republic of Macedonia, with the aim of development of the energy sector through different financing instruments.

energjia.al, 15.08.2013