Parliament approves Energy Strategy 2017-26

This strategy received 41 votes for, 18 against and 9 abstentions.

During the discussion, however, there was criticism over this strategy, saying there are shortcomings and poor planning.

Economic Development Minister Valdrin Luka has introduced the energy strategy for the period 2017-2026, which, according to him, aims at creating a developed health energy sector.

He said that for achieving this goal, five strategic objectives are based.

“Under 1, providing the stable and quality electricity supply and capacity needed for a stable electricity system. Under 2, regional integration into the energy market. Under 3 growth of existing thermal systems capacities and construction of new capacities. Under 4, development of natural gas infrastructure. And under 5, meeting the limits and obligations in energy efficiency, renewable energy sources and environmental protection”, Luka said. Minister Luka said the government will continue to support the construction of the New Kosovo energy project. However, LDK deputy Hykemete Bajrami said this strategy has serious shortcomings and lacks strategic orientation. Bajrami: The strategy has shortcomings (Video) “Another element that this strategy did not make accurate is the fact that the strategy was drafted before the contract for New Kosovo is signed, meaning that many elements of this project are not reflected in the 2017-2026 strategy. Regarding the new Kosovo project, the strategy is seen as having no element of preliminary analysis for the affordable price of energy from businesses and citizens. This then turns out that the contract for New Kosovo has not taken into account the social cost of producing energy”, Bajrami said.

While Vetevendosje Chairman Albin Kurti has addressed criticism especially about the construction of the Kosova e Re thermal power plant.

“With the final contract between Government and Investment Fund “Contour Global” we will have energy expensive, so we will have our bills up to very high percentages than that degree of guaranteed capital return for Contour Global8% through this contract, the government has made decisions for future governments and future generations, and now this strategy comes to us in the Parliament of the Republic that the decision is made, it can't be made to a strategy if it's already taken within a strategy, so that's like bringing it back to horses, and when it's not discussed here in the energy strategy of Kosovo when we have had 20,500, but it didn't have to say in the year't.