North Macedonia’s capital of Skopje has taken a major step towards sustainable urban transport with the addition of six compressed natural gas (CNG) buses, donated through the EU-funded Clean Air project, the city of Skopje announced on November 26.

The announcement comes as Skopje faces chaos due to a severe shortage of buses in the city’s public transport system. A fuel crisis has rendered much of the public transport company JSP’s fleet inoperable, leaving citizens stranded at bus stops for hours over the past two days as temperatures continue to drop.

This initiative is part of a €10mn effort to improve air quality and reduce pollution in North Macedonia.

Manufactured by Turkey's largest commercial vehicle producer, BMC, the buses meet EURO 6 standards and are equipped with eco-technology.

With a carbon footprint of only nine grams per kilometre per passenger, these buses promise to significantly cut CO2 emissions.

“This is a transitional step towards a fully green public transport system,” said Michalis Rokas, the EU Ambassador to North Macedonia. He stressed the importance of public transport as an affordable, efficient and environmentally friendly alternative, which could encourage more people to adopt sustainable travel options.

The eco-buses will operate on high-frequency routes, designed to provide reliable and accessible transport for all citizens, including those with specific needs.

Skopje's Mayor Danela Arsovska highlighted that this project is part of a broader strategy to tackle pollution, reduce harmful PM2.5 and PM10 emissions, and upgrade infrastructure.

“The EU’s donation is a significant achievement for Skopje and demonstrates strong support for our city. It proves that when unimpeded, our administration can deliver meaningful results,” said Arsovska. She urged city council members to back the procurement of 250 additional eco-buses to expand sustainable transport further.

The EU Clean Air project in Skopje also includes transitioning public building heating systems to clean energy, expanding air quality monitoring infrastructure, developing a feasibility study for heating system expansion, and planting 3,000 trees in new urban green spaces.