I. Panel 1 – Energy in the world in the next 20 years

Moderator: Sani Demiri, member of the Board of Directors of ZIP Institute , professor at the University “Mother Teresa”, Skopje
Panelists:
1. Kocho Angjushev, Deputy Prime Minister in charge of Economic Affairs
2. Dragan Minovski, President of the Board of Directors and General Manager of AD Elektrani na Makedonija
3. Nate Blair, Strategic Energy Analyzes Manager at the National Renewable Energy Sources Center
4. Teki Shuyibi, Sales Manager, GE Distribution, GE Energy and Water
The Macedonian Energy Forum, held on June 7-8 in Struga, managed to unite in one place various experts, scientists and senior governmental representatives in the field of energy. The Forum consisted of 5 panels in which various speakers were present and were guided by various moderators. The first panel of speakers were Mr. Kocho Angjushev, Vice President of the Government of the Republic of Macedonia, Mr. Nite Blair, Manager of Strategic Energy Analyzes at the Center for National Renewable Sources, the Director of JSC ELEM, Mr. Dragan Minovski and Mr. Teki Shuiyabi, executive director of GE Energy Distribution in Central and Eastern Europe. ” Energy is the crown of the economy ” was the sentence with which Mr. Kocho Angjushev began his speech at the Macedonian Energy Forum. He talked about the Government’s commitment to solving the problems with energy sources by adopting the new Energy Law, which also contains the EU directives in the field of energy. According to him, the law will give more room for future cooperation and cooperation between companies dealing with the production and distribution of energy. This implies that all firms will have equal conditions for the competitiveness of the energy market. Mr. Kocho Angjushev discussed that the new Law on Energy of the Republic of Macedonia will provide secure supply and supply of electricity as well as support in new projects for renewable energy sources. Macedonia as a small country is obliged to follow the world trends of energy. Therefore, the adoption of the bylaws from all relevant institutions is of particular importance for the overall implementation of the Energy Law. The law should serve as a platform for anyone who wants to be a participant in energy living to have the opportunity to do so within this legal solution. 

II. Panel 2 – Renewable energy sources, micro-networks and energy storage

Moderator: Hristina Spasevska, Professor of FEIT and Head of the Institute of Mathematics and Physics
Panelists:
1. Marek Kubik, Marketing Director, Fluence Energy
2. Natasha Markovska, researcher, Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts
3. Goran Paunov, owner and general director of KMG EOL Kvazar DOOEL
4. Pranvera Dobruna Krieziu, Board of Directors, non-executive director, KEK, Kosovo

Mr. Marek Kubik: When I’m on such forums, I prefer to talk about real events and real things that are feasible. Often when I talk about renewable energy sources and the inclusion of energy storage, a lot of people think it’s just science fiction, but it’s effective. commercial energy storage is already a reality, is relevant and is used anywhere in the world and helps incorporate renewable energy into already existing energy networks. Energy storage is rapidly emerging and has already been able to reach the Giga Watts Hour (GWh) which is not neglecting, and we expect great growth in the use and effectiveness of such storage of energy in the next 10-15 years.
The good energy storage is that the batteries do not bind you for certain conditions, that is, they are very flexible about how, where and how much you use, regardless of the size of the warehouse you need, it can be set up and put into operation in a period of 6 to 12 months.
Ms. Natasha Markovska stressed that its goal here is to structure and condense what has been said so far in the panels in terms of what is required of us from the world agreements on climate change and renewable energy sources. Year 2015 is a turning point in the Sustainable Development and Climate Change Agenda for why the UN General Assembly adopted the goals for sustainable development. The world committed itself with the Agenda 2030 to meet the objectives in which 169 quantified targets were given. Within the framework of these goals, under number 7 is the target related to energy, i.e. to provide clean energy for all and to require an increase in the presence of renewable energy sources. The Universal Treaty obliges all signatories to work towards no increase of more than 2 degrees by the end of the 21st century, but taking into account current trends, the steps taken will not be sufficient and therefore the signatories of this agreement will have to make enormous efforts around its promises. An important part of the agenda is that exclusively developed countries do not work to improve their habits, but the same measures are valid and appropriate for developing countries and they should contribute to addressing this global problem.

III. Panel 3 – Energy stability and security in the Western Balkans

Moderator: Victor Andonov, Secretary General, Euro-Atlantic Council of Macedonia

Panelists:
1. Haki Abazi, executive director of the Institute for Democracies in the booming Washington, USA
2. Steven Burns, Head of Energy and Infrastructure, Bureau for Europe and Eurasia, USAID
3. Trajce Cerepnakovski, Executive Director of Neotel
4. Erideta Bashi, Director of Planning and Strategic Investments Sector, KESH, Albania
5. Inna Lazarova, Board of Directors, Project Department, BEH, Bulgaria

The beginning of panel III belonged to Mr. Haki Abazi, who emphasized that Balkan countries should be especially careful in joining global energy strategies because they can find themselves vulnerable to various energy processes in the energy market. According to him, in order to achieve energy stability on the market it is necessary to meet two factors:
– The first factor is the political will or the change of the old mentality, the need for different thinking and a different approach. He discussed that the different approach would contribute to greater energy security and stability, all of which will affect the reduction of corruption, which as an illegal act is often present in the relations between investors.

IV. Panel 4 – Gasification and diversification of natural gas supply

Moderator: Vrica Uzunova, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of AD ELEM

Panelists:
1. Karolina Cegir, representative from the Energy Community Secretariat in Vienna
2. Sotirios Nikas, Executive Director, DESPA, Greece
3. Juan Jose Fornasso, Vice President for Sales in Europe and the Association of Independent States of Galileo Technologies S.A.
4. Mitko Andreevski, Energy Adviser in the Prime Minister’s Office

Karolina Cegir started her speech pointing out the need for a new infrastructure in Europe that could be realized with a previously well-developed energy and energy strategy. In addition to the planned strategy, Cegir pointed out the importance of establishing cooperation and cooperation among various energy partners, as well as the equal implementation of the common rules on energy in the European Union. She also mentioned that all Balkan countries are motivated to be involved in international projects and as far as Macedonia is concerned. Cegir stressed that Macedonia is in a good position to achieve gasification because it is constantly striving to build a better infrastructure with which it can be supplied and distributes natural gas, biogas and hydrogen. Its concluding words were that: “The establishment of a wider energy network is crucial in improving the distribution of natural gas, and Macedonia has the chance to do it in the future”.

V. Panel 5 – Energy Policy in the Republic of Macedonia – roadmap

Moderator:
Sonja Risteska, Project Officer for Southeast Europe at “Agora Energiewende”
Panelists:
1. Kreshnik Bekteshi, Minister of Economy, Government of the Republic of Macedonia
2. Slave Ivanovski, owner of Mega Solar
3. Atanasko Tuneski, professor at IPS, UKIM

 “Maintenance, modernization and revitalization of the existing and construction of new energy distribution facilities”, according to Economy Minister Bekteshi, is a priority of the future strategy of the Government for energy development in Macedonia. Regrettably, he noted that the sector of the economy faces a lack of qualified personnel for the implementation of energy reforms, so that besides creating an energy development strategy, the Government also carries out internal systematization and recruitment of new staff in the energy sector.
In accordance with the Law on Energy, Bektesi announced the future measures for energy efficiency and protection of consumers of electricity. He also underlined the possibility arising from the Energy Law for local municipalities to establish electricity distribution companies, yet to be financed and supported by government projects.

The Macedonian Energy Forum 2018 successfully presented the Republic of Macedonia to foreign and domestic panelists, but also more than 200 delegates from the country and the region, as well as all those who followed the live broadcasting forum. Our long-term goal is to make the Macedonian Energy Forum a tradition that will contribute to the establishment of energy stability in this region and will spur a wave of new investments.