Old cars, among the main causes of air pollution

Environment and Spatial Planning Minister (MMPH), Fatmir Matoshi, has voiced opposition to adopting the Automedia Law amendment, which defines the age of import of cars from 10 years to 15 years ago.
He has said that based on studies showing that 30 percent of Kosovo's air pollution comes from cars, air polluting in the country will be accurately determined this year through a Japanese project.

Meanwhile, Matoshi for Online Economics has mentioned some of the factors that are affecting air pollution.

I wish this law would not pass to the Parliament and MPs not to support this law. The average age of cars in Kosovo behaves about 20 years old, we have about 400,000 cars running through the streets of Kosovo. At the same time, I also invite MPs to add pressure to have more rigorous control of the quality of oil derivatives and also a stricter control of technical control for cars so that when registered they go through technical checkups, they can correctly measure the emissions they release into the air”.

And we've said in the past as well, we're now repeating that failure to implement the strict quality control of oil derivatives is one of the problems that forces the Ministry to protect this stance we have now. And not complying with administrative directives for technical control of vehicles for technical control is another issue that we also force us to stay on this non-reform of the law, so as not to allow the importation of old cars in Kosovo”.

There's a very professional study we'll have in the first week of November, which a Japanese government program Jajka's program is making, which will accurately define the main air pollutors in the country and then our actions can, or our positions as minister can change. But at this moment we are obliged to stay behind the decision that cars older than 10 years cannot be imported to Kosovo”, especially in the winter season.

The minister has voiced distrust that the air situation in Kosovo could improve this year.

He even says that for even a longer time, air pollution in Kosovo will continue to occur, as according to him, especially the winter period makes the air difficult because of heating from coal, cars and other pollutants.

“I am aware that during this winter we will not have good air in Pristina, especially in Pristina. I know it's not going to happen next year because this is not a several-month challenge, a year or two, it's a slightly bigger challenge”.

“We will work hard with the Pristina municipality in creating green spaces, then create as many opportunities as possible for public transportation use, we will also seek the help and support of citizens not to use cars in, especially in the period when the smog is above Pristina and there is no circulation, there is no movement”.

“All the gases that are released from thermal power plants, whether by cars or other burns used for heating from households, from others, is that period several weeks ago involving Pristina and, in this case, in these situations, we can also make decisions for a short term, but we will also seek understanding and support from each citizen to make his contribution to maintaining air quality<1>.

In addition to the decision to disrupt the use of coal in school institutions, the MMPH minister says the decision on such a break from public institutions is already available.

He said this would happen after additional clarifications regarding the proposal the decision sought by the Kosovo government, which, according to Matosit, will be presented at the government's next meeting.

Now we are ahead of the decision to stop using coal in public institutions. I believe this will happen next week. The government has asked for additional clarifications regarding the proposal that we have submitted to. We're working on sending them additional clarifications, and I hope that this decision will be made at the next Government meeting.

The minister has said Kosovo citizens will be able to convey the state of air quality through software, which he has said would become a major investment, EO reports.

Also, this year we have software installed, because we've been forced to follow the air quality situation from the embassies here as well. Now in real time, citizens can be informed at any moment through the Ministry software that we've done in collaboration with the European Commission, the state of air quality in the country”.

Also in this area, we have a huge investment with the MSS, which will be a $5m project to provide equipment for both software and equipment to measure air quality across the territory of the Republic of Kosovo”.