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02 07 2009 This Thursday, Life in Kosovo broadcast a debate on energy; plans for a new lignite power plant in Kosovo, and renewable energy sources.
What is the Kosova e Re project? Which plan would best fulfil the economic needs of Kosovo while protecting the environment? What is the difference between the old plans for the Kosova C plant and the new Kosova Re proposal? Who is interested in investing in the scheme? How will the successful bidders guarantee that the energy produced will go first to Kosovo residents, and then for export?
To discuss these issues, Jeta Xharra’s guests in the studio were:
Energy and Mining Minister Justina Shiroka-Pula,
Luan Shllaku, environmental expert from Forum 2015
Shpend Ahmeti, economist from the GAP Institute
Ethem Çeku, former energy and mining minister
The debate started with the common Life in Kosovo teaser: “Have you paid your electricity bill?” – a question directed to the panel.
Xharra told listeners that all of the panel members regularly paid their electricity bills. The debate then opened with a question directed to Shiroka-Pula.
Asked what the government, which came into power, in part, through promising improvements in the energy sector, has done in a year and a half, she said that the state of energy development is relatively good and that the Kosovo Energy Corporation, KEK, has shown significant progress.
“In 2008, we had a 9 per cent increase in energy production and have [achieved] 4500 GW/h, and billing has shown 19 per cent progress,” added Shiroka-Pula, noting that the ministry has managed to mitigate some of the problems in the sector.
Former minister Ceku congratulated Pula for the achievements of this period, while appearing to cast doubt on the veracity of the claimed successes. His comments painted a different picture of the state of the energy sector.
“I believe that, since the new government came to power, the ministry was wrong to decelerate the rhythm. It is true that they needed to familiarise [themselves] with the sector,” said Ceku. He said the current strategy is the same as that presented during his time as minister and that the only change is the in the name of the project.
Forum 2015's Shllaku, expressed his opposition to the plant proposal, as envisaged by both the previous and current governments. According to Shllaku, if the question at hand is what is the generation capacity needed to fulfil Kosovo’s domestic needs then the existing proposal is not the best choice.
“A small capacity of 500MW would be enough for the next 10-15 years for Kosovo to have the energy that it needs,” he said, adding that generation capacity could be added in future on the basis of existing factors at the time.
Ahmeti, who heads the GAP Institute, emphasised that this debate should have taken place earlier and not in the final stage. He also mentioned two primary proposals, one backed by the World Bank and the other by U.S. institutions. Ahmeti considers that "Kosova A" and "Kosova B” should be included in this project if Kosovo wants to rehabilitate their capacities.
“Kosova A and B, standing on their own, are not very attractive to foreign investors and no one would invest if they would be privatised independently. It would be better to include them in the same package with Kosova e Re, in order to give it to a private investor,” said Ahmeti, voicing support for an element of the U.S.-backed proposal.
According to Shllaku, the proposals backed by these two entities are of “secondary importance”, and do not, as such, address the key issue, which, according to him, is the current need for electricity.
“First of all, we should know who will be the owner of the new power plant; the owner of Sibovc mine as a strategic point; and thirdly, what the capacities will be,” he said.
Ceku believes it is extremely important for the government to insist that a tax is paid by whoever is chosen to operate the Sibovci mine and on profits made in the selling of electricity.
Shllaku also underlined the importance of complying with EU regulations; since Kosovo’s political aim it to become a member of the bloc.
During the course of the show, BIRN also broadcast a TV report by Jeta Abazi, who explored the alternative sources of energy available in Kosovo.
“Kosovo is obliged to reduce the use of lignite energy by 20 per cent, before the year 2020,” noted Shllaku.
An important point made by Ahmeti related to debate on the issue up to this point.
“Why has this issue has not been discussed in the parliament? Why is it being discussed in Washington?” he asked.
Responding to a remark from Ahmeti that, given the global economic crisis, investors “are not waiting in line” to invest their money in Kosovo, Shiroka-Pula said that the entities have raised different proposals before and during the crisis.
“In such a situation Kosovo will be able to become a shareholder and we will try our best to do this,” claimed Shiroka-Pula.
Four consortiums are competing to be awarded the “Kosova e Re” project, which will take at least four years to build.
In the course of the show, BIRN broadcast a Culture in Kosovo piece in which Arif Muharremi reflected on the death of the King of the Pop, Michael Jackson.
At the beginning of 2010 BIRN network published Digging Deeper - A Guide for Investigative Journalists in the Balkans, written in cooperation with Sheila Coronel, Director of the Stabile Center for Investigative Journalism and professor of professional practice at Columbia University, New York.
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