Alternative Energy in Macedonia

Hi.   I am English and have for sometime been looking at investment opportunity in Macedonia on behalf of a conglomerate of HNW individuals interested in funding new start alternative energy projects in the region.   For the last year and some months I have been looking into several different areas in which our investors have  indicated a desire to invest in Macedonia.  However but I find I am blocked every time by the odd communi or simply because a process to obtain a license for something either doesnt exist or isnt available.   Now I know there are local solutions to this problem by leveraging local contacts etc to secure agreements etc however this is not a the sort of conduct our investors (including myself) will support.  I am looking for opportunities which have processes and licenses and do not really on any sort of questionable relationships for their security in the future.

Most recently I was asked by our investment partners in Dubai to investigate potential for an exploratory investment in alternative energy. Primarily focussing upon a setup of around 800,000k (Euros or less) in Multiple Micro and small hydro businesses.   The first step was to construct a small pilot as proof of concept.  This has over the course of the year been impossible to achieve so far Macedonia has no clear process for Micro Hydro facilities and no tenders for Micro Hydro sites have been produced as far as we know. ( we were told by the Metrological/Hydro institute guys that they expect people to tender for something that a farmer would use to drive a small pump?.  How do you get a proof of concept off the ground?  The tenders we have seen have been around 400k-500k+ Small hydro projects.  We have actually got to the point where we would like to recommend one of these with investors but were unable too due to the confusion around the energy licenses, water usage and other required to develop a small pilot.  

I am currently looking at hydro and biofuel investment across the balkans and we still have partners interested in possible biofuel production facilities based in Macedonia.  Does anyone have any experience or tips in bio production within Macedonia. Is it even a possibility for ethical invesment?

Initially we have been looking at Ethanol, bio diesel and solid brickett form biofuels based on crop derivatives and/or recovered biomass respectively.  If anyone has uncovered a process for understanding the licensing for such facilities in Macedonia or even someone within the various agencies that understands them I would be greatful for any information you can offer.  Given the failure to invest in Macedonia we have now broadened our target area to include serbia, kosovo and other Balkans countries so please do be good enough to share your experience of opportunity across the Balkans if you feel it is relevant and of course not sensitive to your own efforts.  If someone has information concerning the viability of investing in alternative energy at the entry level in any of these countries (particularly Macedonia even if its just to say dont waste any more time there I would appreciate it. (Small pilot to 50k with second round funding of up to 1Mil Euro, (third round not defined). 

If you have a man in Macedonia who have contacts, then we can pass more easily.