North Macedonia is preparing to begin construction of the “Chebren” and “Galishte” hydroelectric power plants in 2027

North Macedonia plans to begin construction of the “Chebren” and “Galishte” hydroelectric power plants in 2027, with the two long-discussed projects now among the priorities for the development of the local energy sector. BalkanEngineer.com learned from SeeNews that, if negotiations with international financial institutions are successfully concluded, the foundations for the future facilities are expected to be laid as early as next year.

The two power plants are planned along the Tsarna River and, together, would add over 520 MW of hydropower capacity. The indicative capacity of the “Chebren” hydropower plant is approximately 333 MW, while the “Galishte” hydropower plant is designed for 193.5 MW. For the second plant, the state-owned company ESM (Electric Power Plants of North Macedonia) estimates an expected annual production of 262.5 GWh, with the facility also intended to cover peak loads in the power system.

At this stage, North Macedonia is focusing on implementing the projects with the assistance of ESM and international financial institutions. As early as June, it was announced that work was underway to arrange a syndicated loan with several international lenders. However, a final financial agreement has not yet been announced, so 2027 remains the target date for the start of construction, pending the conclusion of negotiations.

The potential of the Tsarna River for the construction of new hydropower facilities has been under consideration for decades, and over the years, a series of procedures have been conducted to find an investor. The most recent attempt to implement the project through a concession model ended in 2024 without construction ever beginning. The current shift toward state-led implementation with international financing represents a new model for moving these two projects forward.

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