Air pollution guaranteed in Pristina, no coal prohibited

According to all likelihood, air pollution in Pristina and surrounding cities will happen even this winter. And that's because citizens are not allowed to use coal. There will be only for public institutions to stop using this fuel.

The decision to ban the use of coal in public institutions has been sent to the Kosovo government, by the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning (MMPH). This decision is expected to be discussed at the next meeting in the government.

However, this will not be done for citizens who use coal as fuel to warm themselves during winter. They can use it until it becomes a larger extension of the central heating network in the capital.

Even this year is a major risk of air pollution, because we can't stop houses from using coal, we can only do that for public institutions. With this we can ease air pollution, but not solve it completely, since it is not enough two or three years for this”, MMPHA Minister Fatmir Matoshi has said.

Matoshi, has said that the decision sent to the government for discussion does not prohibit the use of coal to citizens, but will increase the care of the Pristina municipality's police and inspectorate, for the illegal sale of the coal to be controlled and banned.

For as long as we can with our inspectors we're going to stop the sale, we've asked Pristina police and municipal inspectors to be careful about this issue, as we have information that the coal sold on the street is illegal, without letters”, Matosi has indicated.

According to this, Pristina air pollution, but even surrounding cities like Fushe Kosovo, Obilik and Gracanica, will continue to take place even this winter.

He added that Thermocos is not using coal, but mazut and cogeneration method.

The co-operation project amounts to 37 million euros, ahead of those provided by the European Commission, the German Government through the Bank for Development, the Swedish Government, Luxembourg Government, Pristina municipality and the Government of Kosovo.

This project enables rehabilitation of Pristina's central heating system and ensures stable heating, higher efficiency, and cleaner environments.

Last year, air pollution has been disturbing for Pristina citizens and other cities around it. Health experts in Kosovo had stressed that the number of sick people from the polluted environment had increased, in particular in December, adding lung problems and other respiratory diseases.

The Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning Fatmir Matoshi has confirmed this for Express.