The Ministry of Economy reimburses 30% or 300 euros of the expenses of each family that has installed a solar collector. Citizens are able to apply for the funds at an open competition, which will run till late May.

Six million euros have been singled out from the budget to reimburse nearly 350 households, Economy Minister Valon Saraqini told a press conference on Tuesday.

"I call on the citizens to submit the necessary documents at a public call. The procedure is very simple," Saraqini said.

Energy prices are surging and Macedonia has huge potential to use solar energy, according to him.

"At the moment, 2.500 households have installed solar collectors. According to our estimations, they save up to 10.000 denars annually. If all of the 600.000 households have a solar collector installed, annual savings will amount to almost six billion denars," the Minister stressed.

The Ministry of Economy will conduct a campaign in February and March in a bid to increase the interest in installing solar collectors  and to raise public awareness on the matter.