In an article published published by energygame and Chronos Kozanis, Nikos Mantzaris, Lead Policy Analyst and Co-founder of The Green Tank, examines Greece’s lignite exports to North Macedonia during the 2022–2026 period, shedding light on an aspect of the country’s lignite phase-out that has been at the center of public and parliamentary debate in recent years.
The discussion focuses on whether the continued mining and export of lignite is compatible with Greece’s decarbonization goals, given that greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution are not eliminated but rather shifted beyond the country’s borders. At the same time, concerns have been raised about the environmental and social impacts of mining on local communities, as well as the unresolved compensation claims of residents in Achlada.
Drawing on data from Eurostat and ESM (North Macedonia’s state-owned electricity generation company), the analysis finds that:
- Between March 2022 and March 2026, Greece exported a total of 2.96 million tonnes of lignite to North Macedonia—a relatively small amount compared to the 50–55 million tonnes of lignite that were mined annually in Western Macedonia when Greece’s lignite-fired power plants were operating at full capacity.
- These exports generated revenues of €91.7 million.
- By the end of 2025, Greek lignite accounted for 16.9% of the total fuel used at the Bitola lignite power plant, while in some months its share exceeded 40%.
- The total amount of Greek lignite exported during the four-year period contributed to the generation of approximately 1.5 TWh of electricity at the Bitola power plant.
The analysis concludes that a truly complete transition away from lignite requires not only the phase-out of lignite-fired power generation, but also the gradual end of lignite mining. It also calls for coordinated action by Greece and North Macedonia to reduce emissions and support the local communities affected by the transition.
Read the full article in energygame [in Greek] here and in Chronos Kozanis [in Greek] here.
