North Macedonia is taking a step toward building a skilled and resilient energy workforce. With support from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), a new technical assistance project - delivered by ACT Global and GPM Consulting - has been launched to equip the country’s transmission workers with the skills they need to succeed in a low-carbon economy.
The project is aligned with North Macedonia’s Accelerating Coal Transition Investment Plan and Just Transition Roadmap. At its core is the establishment of a new MEPSO Training Centre in Ohrid, designed to strengthen the technical and digital skills of transmission system professionals. This centre will deliver practical training in areas such as renewable energy integration, grid modernization, SCADA operations, and cybersecurity - capabilities essential for the country’s energy transition.
Last week, the ACT Global and GPM Consulting teams convened a series of productive meetings with government institutions, vocational education providers and private sector employers. These sessions focused on identifying critical skills gaps, possible partnerships between vocational education institutions and energy industry actors, and ensuring that the inclusiveness is considered in the designs of the vocational education facilities.
As part of the engagement process, the project team visited MEPSO’s facilities in Ohrid. The visit provided firsthand insights into the technical landscape that will support shaping the design of training programmes that meet the evolving needs of the transmission sector.
In the months ahead, the project will focus on developing new training curricula, implementing work-based learning pathways, and launching retraining programmes to support coal mine and thermal power plant workers transition into green jobs. It will also define a long-term sustainability model for the training centre, with the ambition of positioning it as a regional hub for transmission sector skills across the Western Balkans.
Through this initiative, North Macedonia is laying the foundation for a just energy transition - one that equips people with the skills to participate in the green economy, strengthens industry competitiveness, and supports economic growth in the country’s Southwest and beyond.
