Skopje prosecutors reopen fuel procurement investigation

The Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Skopje has overturned a previous order to halt an investigation into fuel procurement for the Negotino Thermal Power Plant. The decision follows an appeal by North Macedonia Electricity Enterprises (ESM) regarding allegations of public procurement abuse and money laundering involving 13 individuals and one legal entity.

Prosecutors identified weaknesses in the previous expert reports that had led to the suspension of the case. The investigation will now resume with instructions to collect more data from various institutions and conduct new expert analyses. The probe aims to determine if ESM misused state budget funds under the guise of emergency procurement laws to provide significant financial benefits to specific suspects.

The case dates back to the energy crisis period (2021–2023) and involves suspicions of illegal contracts and money laundering. Previous estimates suggested potential damages to the state budget of approximately 167.55 million euros.