The facilities and control buildings at the 400/110 kV SS Skopje 4, 400/110 kV SS Skopje 1/5, and 400/100 kV SS Dubrovo, constructed in the 1970s, lack proper thermal insulation and present subpar working conditions. However, these scenes are set to become a thing of the past. Today, members of the company's management team observed the working environment of the hundred employees at these three key substations in the country.
"As the new management team, we encountered several public procurement procedures incompatible with MEPSO's essential needs. In the spirit of optimization, we decided to reallocate funds from these procedures towards the renovation of the control buildings at key transformer stations in Macedonia: TS Skopje 1/5, Skopje 4, and TS Dubrovo, all of which were constructed over forty to fifty years ago. These projects will significantly enhance energy efficiency and reduce our operational consumption, ultimately benefiting the overall economy of the system. Additionally, by upgrading these facilities, we will provide improved quality and working conditions for our dispatchers and technical personnel at the substations, which is crucial for their safety and productivity", Burim Latifi, Director General of AD MEPSO, emphasized these points to the employees.
With the reconstruction, rehabilitation, and modernization of these buildings, energy efficiency will be enhanced, renewable energy sources integrated, and heating, cooling, and lighting costs reduced. This project will foster high-quality working conditions and provide accessible facilities for individuals with disabilities.
The control building at SS Skopje 4, located in the Pintija neighborhood, dates to 1976. This station is crucial in supplying electricity to consumers in the Skopje region, including households, businesses, the Bunardjik industrial zone, the airport, and the city center.
SS Skopje 1/5 in the Butel neighborhood has been operational for 57 years and supplies approximately 50% of Skopje’s energy needs. It is directly connected to the Te-To cogeneration thermal power plant and serves as a hub for a 400 kV interconnection to Kosovo, and another 400 kV OHTL extending to SS Skopje 4.
Our country also maintains interconnection lines with neighboring Greece and Bulgaria through the 400/110 kV SS Dubrovo, which links to SS Shtip. SS Dubrovo is further connected to SS Bitola 2 and SS Skopje 4, forming a crucial energy network that distributes power to TPP Negotino, SS Buchim, SS Valandovo, SS Kavadarci, and both Feni 1 and Feni 2 stations.
To reduce costs and improve working conditions, the new management team has scheduled the reconstruction of several 110 kV substations, including SS Bitola 1, SS Veles, SS Kavadarci, SS Samokov, and SS Skopje 2.