Air quality protection in Kosovo, coal to be extracted from use

It was December 2016 when Pristina citizens were alarmed at the high degree of environmental pollution in the capital. Based initially on data from air quality monitors from the American Embassy in Pristina, it was confirmed that the air situation is high levels of pollution.

In addition to weather conditions, old thermal power plants and gases that release old cars into circulation, another factor of pollution was found to be fuel heating, such as coal.

Environment and Spatial Planning Minister Albena Resiti has declared that one of the priorities in its mandate will be raising air quality.

Thus, among the first measures in this regard, she has mentioned the ban on the use of coal for heating from businesses and family economies.

Kosovo Environmental Protection Agency Chief Executive Chief Ilir Morina has told Radio Free Europe that such a decision would contribute to people's health, maintaining the environment, especially during the winter season when conditions weigh the air. According to him, it should gradually start with other heating alternatives.

It can be replaced by wood. It can be used less. It can use it in the days when it's cleaner, not in moments when we have our week. An added search will be expected, an added inspection and a conviction of the abusers”, he said.

Based on the latest data from the results on the ground, Morina has found that for months, July and August, the air situation was stable in quality. Meanwhile, concerns about air quality increase during the autumn season.

But despite warnings from Environment and Spatial Planning Minister Morina says there is still no specific date of when the decision to stop the heating coal would begin to apply.

Everything is getting ready for November, December, January, because we know what the situation will be. We already have a 10-year experience. Every year, air quality conditions in Kosovo have improved, thanks to the establishment of new filters, thanks to decisions being made on vehicles and imports. But, unfortunately, some are not being improvised by the Ministry of Transport such as the technical control of gas emissions”.

“Well, it will positively influence the rise of air quality and the taking of measures, but also the awareness of drivers, the awareness of households for fuels, industries, economies of all these”, he added.

But citizens consider such a statement by Minister Resitij as challenging, taking into account the family economies' budget.

Luljeta Zymber thinks the economic situation imposes this:

We need to be aware that the environment is cleaner and that we take care of many things and not just for heating, but the economic situation imposes it on people to choose the freest way”.

Citizen Hamit Kasabach similarly says:

Besides wood and coal, we're not likely to warm up, so I don't know how she thought she would remove the wood and the coal. What's this people gonna heat up to?

In addition, Kosovo continues to face high levels of pollution coming from old thermal power plants and cars.

Based on a previous GAP Institute research, the average age of vehicles in Kosovo is 18 years.

On 27 June of this year's new Law on Autos has been enacted, which predicts that cars older than 10 years in Kosovo cannot be imported.