Prishtinë, October 15, 2018 – Businesses in Kosovo, specifically the manufacturing sector, have identified electricity as a considerable barrier in their development since after war. Unstable electricity supply during these years has resulted in many million-euros losses to the industry sector in the country and has also has prevented the manufacturing sector empowerment in the country. The American Chamber of Commerce in Kosovo expresses its belief that a high number of challenges that businesses face in the energy area would be solved by building the “Kosova e Re” power plant.
Besides the recent positive trends the country has marked in the recent years in stability growth and supply predictability, Kosovo still needs to immediately create new generating electricity capacities. The new power plant construction would enable Kosovo to expand its generating capacities and consequently decrease electricity imports.
Existing power plants operate with outdated technologies, while a serious damage made in them would result in energy crisis in Kosovo and would also increase imports, i.e. increasing the price of energy.
Also, it is worth mentioning that lignite is the main natural source for the Republic of Kosovo and therefore it should be utilized in growth of economic development in the country, considering the new technology in this area which has enabled such sources’ impact in the environment to decrease. Normally, building the power plant should not discourage investments in generating capacities development from renewable energy sources.
Taking this into consideration, AmCham hopes to see the successful conclusion of these efforts of the Government and also of the selected company in the upcoming months which would result in finalizing the project of the new power plant as a necessity for the private sector in the country.