Activists shut down hydro plants in N.Macedonia, refusing to back down.
North Macedonian Rivers at the Crossroads of Green Energy
Activists block routes to hydro‑power camps on Mount Kozuf
- Protesters erect banners stating “Rivers are not private business” near the southern border with Greece.
- They claim the proposed two small‑scale plants on the Dosnica will destroy one of the country’s last healthy rivers.
- “Until the licenses are cancelled and all machines are removed from the river Dosnica, we will not move,” environmental activist Marina Tomova told AFP.
Hydro Dosnica defends its environmental record
Hydro Dosnica denied allegations that the development would damage the river, asserting that the project “follows environmental standards” and is “being carried out transparently, respecting all environmental and technical standards.”
The company offered to “engage with environmental experts and institutions regarding any new findings at the site.”
Smaller plants, larger impact
Small hydropower stations—capable of up to 10 megawatts each—constitute just four percent of North Macedonia’s overall energy production (2020 data). The country currently operates around 90 such plants, and plans to almost double that number.
In 2024, conservation groups EuroNatur and Riverwatch reported that the Balkan region hosts roughly 1,800 hydropower plants and over 3,000 planned facilities, the majority being small‑scale installations like those on the Dosnica.
Climatic threats to hydropower generation
A 2023 study of a river basin that begins in North Macedonia and flows into Albania and Montenegro concluded that climate change could reduce yearly hydropower output in that region by up to 52 percent by 2050.
The research, funded by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, warned that hydro‑reliant Albania would be heavily impacted by changes in the Drina basin, suggesting that investing in other renewable sources would strengthen its grid.
Activists continue to “not back down”
- Risto Kamov from the environmental activist group Changemakers4All told AFP: “The devastating projects here have to stop. We are not backing down, and we will stay to protect Dosnica and Kozuf.”
- Environmental non‑profit Eko Svest, along with a group of prominent scientists, appealed to the government to officially protect the river, arguing that the Dosnica hosts several protected species.
- The government has extended the license for the development until April 2026, while stating that it is “closely monitoring public reactions and is ready to encourage an open and constructive dialogue with all stakeholders.”
