February 24 (SeeNews) - Macedonia's gross electricity production dropped 0.3% to 5,627,652 MWh in 2016, the office of national statistics said on Friday.
Net power output in 2016 rose slightly by 0.2% to 5,287,093 MWh, while final electricity consumption declined 6.6% to 6,192,932 MWh, the statistical office said in a monthly report.
Thermal power plants contributed the largest portion of the 2016 gross domestic electricity production, or 2,993,853 MWh, down 13%, compared to 2015. Hydropower plants followed with 1,896,754 MWh, representing an annual increase of 1.7%.
Electricity generated by combined heat and power plants and auto production thermal power stations rose more than three times in 2016 to 567,829 MWh.
Energy produced by wind farms fell 9.3% to 109,483 MWh, whereas power solar plants generated 23,699 MWh, 4.9% more than a year ago. Biogas plants' output jumped 78% to 36,033 MWh.
In 2016, Macedonia imported 2,190,606 MWh, or 18% less than in 2015, and exported 12% more electricity, or 159,853 MWh.
Distribution losses declined by 2.7% to 1,006,983 MWh.
In December alone, Macedonia's gross electricity production rose 14% on the year to 681,367 MWh, whereas net electricity output increased 18% to 648,437 MWh.
Final electricity consumption in December rose 3.5% year-on-year to 627,772 MWh, as domestic production covered 81% of the country's needs.