Responsibilities in Administration
Public Administration
Government of the Republic of Macedonia
(Government of the Republic of Macedonia Website)
Ministry of Economy
The Ministry of Economy is in charge of strategic planning and legislation development. One of the bodies of the Ministry of Economy is the Sector for Energy and Energy Efficiency. Its main obligations are:
- to conduct energy policy of the state through the programs, measures and other activities,
- to create and develop laws, sub-laws, and other legal documents on energy,
- to initiate, join and implement the policy for energy sector restructuring,
- to create and develop concession acts, licences, approvals and agreements for any energy activity and exploitation,
- to establish tariff system and other acts as the regulator of the energy prices.
This sector is also in charge to collect and provide all data regarding energy production, supply, demand, balance etc. and compile them in a public document. The obligation of the Sector is to implement energy related European Directives into Macedonian laws.
The Sector for Energy runs the following two organisations:
State Energy Agency
The State Energy Agency, established in January, 2004, is responsible for professional technical support on data management, strategy analysis, policy and project assessment and implementation coordination. The formal determination of the State Energy Authority is set within the new Energy Law and Amendments on the Law on State Administration.
In July 2005, the Law of the Republic of Macedonia was adopted in order to found an Energy Agency. The founding of the Energy Agency is already in process. One of the main working focuses of the Agency will be energy efficiency. The Agency will be independent in its work, and financially accountable to the Ministry of Economy. The defined role of the Agency is to initiate, coordinate, study and prepare appropriate documents, together with domestic and foreign specialized companies and experts, and to suggest concrete solutions and activities to the Government, through the Ministry of Economy. Specific activities of the Agency will be aimed towards:
- preparation of mid-term and long-term strategies and development plans;
- preparation and coordination of the energy reforms;
- proposal and evaluation of studies and projects on the energy sectors, energy efficiency and renewable energy sources;
- preparation and coordination of the implementation of investment projects;
- regional cooperation and coordination of regional projects, and other activities.
Energy Regulatory Commission
The Energy Regulatory Commission was established in June 2003 (Energy Law). Its 5 Commissioners were nominated by the Parliament Assembly in July 2003.
It is engaged in:
- Establishment of tariff systems and prices
- Authorization procedures (licenses for generation, distribution, supply and eventually other services within the energy industry)
- Development / verification of Grid Codes and Market Codes
- Dispute settlement and customer protection.
Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning
Article 122-a of the Law on Amendment and Supplementing the Law on Public Administration Bodies defines the following competencies of the Ministry of Environment:
- monitoring of the state of the environment
- proposing of measures and activities aimed at water resources, air and ozone layer protection, protection against noise, radiation, conservation of biological diversity, geological diversity, national parks and protected areas
- remedial of polluted parts of the environment
- cooperation with scientific institutions for development of standards and regulations to regulate environment protection
- development of self-financing system from independent sources, types and levels of environmental charges and other payments;
- cooperation with civil associations, civil initiatives and other forms of civic activity
- inspection supervision in the field of its scope
- other activities specified by law
Ministry of Transport and Communications
The Ministry of Transport and Communications carries out activities in field of energy that refer to:
- road traffic and road infrastructure;
- railway transportation and railway infrastructure;
- air traffic and air-traffic infrastructure;
- domestic water traffic;
- telecommunications and telecommunication infrastructure;
- other types of transport and infrastructure necessary for transpiration (cable railway, ski-lifts etc.);
- housing-communal activities, adequate infrastructure, arrangement and management of the construction of land property of the Republic
- it carries out other activities stipulated by the Law.
Energy Related Organisations
Regional Environmental Centre (REC), Country Office Macedonia
The REC Country Office has established cooperation with NGOs by providing grants, training and information. It has contributed to the general growth of environmental NGOs in Macedonia in the past decade. REC Country Office Macedonia has established cooperation with the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, while implementing different projects, further it has relations with the business sector in Macedonia, and has been working on the establishment of a good environmental approach towards business. It is in good relations with the international donor community. Quite often the donors, who offer assistance, as well as advice regarding the situation of the Macedonian environmental community, contact the office.
Main projects are: Air quality legislation; Implementation of project activities of the Regional Environmental Reconstruction Programme for South East Europe (REReP, see also the website of the Stability Pact for South East Europe) in Macedonia, as Macedonia is one of the REReP's beneficiary countries.
Association of Power Engineers of Macedonia (ZEMAK)
This organization can be described as Energetic Association in Macedonia that has, during the last twelve years, established itself in the national and international scientific and professional circles. It's main goal isto monitor, promote and improve the energy sector in Macedonia. Thus, ZEMAK has historically an important role as a responsible and permanent driver, promoter and initiator for resolving of all-important questions directly or indirectly interconnected with the power energy sector in the country, and therefore the entire economy in the country as well. The main foucs of ZEMAK is in macro energy supply. It used to be sponsered by ESM (now EVN). [ ZEMAK ]
Macedonian Centre on Energy Efficiency (MACEF)
MACEF has the mission to increase energy efficiency and environmental protection at national level by implementing measures and invest in capacity building in cooperation with governmental institutions, local self-government, engineers, donor organization and ecologists.
MACEF's mandate incorporates:
- promotion and implementation of EE measures to protect the environment
- advise and expert counselling for energy and drinking water efficiency management
- planning for energy and energy resources development
- planning and implementation of Action Plans for EE at municipality level
- regional and international collaboration
- participation in National Energy Policy Designs
MACEF (except full time employees) has over 60 active expert members among whom are 14 PhD, 5 MSc, 11 certified Energy Auditors, and 2 persons are trained for preparation of necessary documentation in the field of IPPC. The Center intensively and continuously develops studies and reports for the purpose of attracting potential investors, verified by a variety of instruments for diagnostically measurements. It raises EE awareness through exhibiting and organizing various events with a technical approach, publishing books, web publishing of monthly newsletter since April 2003, a frequently updated website: www.macef.org.mk, and a distant learning program (UNESCO project DESIRE-NET). Furthermore, MACEF is a member of the Regional Network on Efficient Use of Resources (RENEUER), has support and collaborates with Alliance to Save Energy (ASE), is member of Association of Consultancy Services, and takes stake in the "managenergy"-network.
The Center is affiliated to the - BISE Forum (Building Integration for Sustainable Energy) among another 21 European countries, as well as managing secretary and overseeing the organizational tasks of the Macedonian Municipal Network for Energy Efficiency - MAMNEE. [ MACEF ]
The Research Centre for Energy, Informatics and Materials of the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts (ICEIM-MANU)
ICEIM-MANU was established in 1994 with the mission of initiating and coordinating national research programs and performing highlevel research in selected fields, both applied and basic. Since then, the whole scientific activity has been realized through over forty research projects, out of which twenty nine are on international level - funds from EC, UN Agencies, USAID and some European governments. Specifically, the applied research of the Centre has been devoted to energy strategies, energy efficiency and renewable energy sources, as well as the environmental impacts of various energy technologies, including greenhouse gases emissions and climate change. The results contributed to some strategic documents, adopted by the government, which shape the national policy in energy and the environment sectors.
Macedonian Energy Brigades (MEB)
MEB is a full member of the International Energy Brigades (IEB) which has the following mission as a civil society organisation:
- organize communities towards sustainable energy use and management
- educate people on sustainable development, energy efficiency and renewable energy
- demonstrate energy saving principles, practices, and technologies
- advocate policies in support of sustainable energy and poverty elimination
- facilitate partnership building among different groups at the local and international levels.
The sponsors of this organisation are: Heinrich Boell Stiftung (Germany), The Department for International Development (UK), Green Grants Fund (USA), National Charity Lottery Board (UK), European Union DG XI, and British Know How Fund (UK).
USAID
USAID is providing assistance to the Government of Macedonia for the restructuring of the utility company, Macedonia Electric Company (ESM), with the goal of converting the state owned enterprise into a privately held, publicly regulated utility. The law firm of Hunton and Williams is preparing a plan for the company's new structure and a plan for implementation of the new structure.
Economic Chamber of Macedonia
The Economic Chamber of Macedonia is a business-professional, non-party and non-government organization, members of which, according to the positive statutory regulations, are all the entities engaged in economic activities. The members of the Chamber determine its organization and operation, through its organs, bodies and forms of organization. The basic task of chamber organizing is, first of all, representation of the interests of the economy in all its spheres, with the aim of accomplishing successful results in the operation of the enterprises both in domestic and foreign markets, increasing the profitability of operation, upgrading the quality, the professional training of personnel, the technical-technological development, the promotion and representation activities and information linking, being the essential prerequisites for developing the trade with foreign countries.
Macedonian Energy Association (MEA) under the Macedonia Chamber of Commerce was founded in May 2005 and its members are 33 companies – producers, providers of energy systems, and the biggest energy consumers.
Macedonian Chambers of Commerce (MCC)
The MCC is an association of a chambers of SMS enterprises with mission to increase competitiveness of member companies, promotion of Macedonian business environment and sale increase of our products at the global market.
Strategic goals connected to the field of energy are: An advocacy program at both levels of government that result in positive and effective economic change for the protection of business interests; Developing industry specific initiatives that enhance the entrepreneurial skill of member companies and improves productivity and competitiveness; Improvement of managers’ performances trough education, conferences and workshops.
