Home World Live International Crisis Public transport ceases in North Macedonia’s capital due to fuel purchase issues faced by the operator.

Public transport ceases in North Macedonia’s capital due to fuel purchase issues faced by the operator.

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SKOPJE, North Macedonia – On Thursday, the public transportation system in North Macedonia’s capital faced significant disruptions as most buses stopped operating due to the financial struggles of the transport operator, leaving countless commuters in a difficult situation and affecting local businesses.

Starting late Wednesday, many buses in Skopje—home to over a third of the nation’s 1.8 million citizens—began to go out of service, and only a handful of routes remained functional on Thursday. This unforeseen halt left thousands of students and workers without means of transportation, while hospitals experienced challenges in managing patient accommodations.

The primary issue stemmed from the heavily indebted municipal transportation operator’s failure to secure fuel, a problem exacerbated by conflict between city and national governments, both of which are led by the country’s conservative party.

City officials have placed blame on the national public procurement department for not ensuring consistent fuel deliveries, while the national authority pointed to irregularities in the tender processes used by the operator, known as JSP.

Reports have surfaced indicating that the fuel shortages have persisted for over three months, but the situation intensified this week when no fuel deliveries were made to the depots, according to a union statement representing public bus drivers.

JSP, which operates an aging fleet of nearly 380 buses with an average age of 12 years, currently carries a significant debt of nearly 10 million euros ($10.6 million).

In response to the ongoing crisis, the Skopje Student Association, which advocates for over 28,000 students, has announced that it will organize a protest on Friday if the public transport services are not reinstated promptly.

The opposition Social Democratic Party labeled the current state of affairs as unacceptable, highlighting that “the streets are littered with garbage, public transportation has ceased, and residents are left without essential services.”