Another winter of air pollution is expected

Kosovo authorities still do not have an exact mirror about the biggest air pollutants.

In recent years, the winter season for several Kosovo cities, especially for Pristina, has been characterised with high and dangerous air pollution.

Results about pollutants being investigated by a Japanese air-field company will emerge early in November, Environment Ministry and Spatial Planning representatives (MMPH) say.

But without this research, institutions say the biggest pollutants are considered to be the numerous cars, the Kosovo Energy Corporation, which produces energy through coal burning, as well as its use for heating.

Leutrim Sahiti, political adviser to MMPH Minister Fatmir Matoshi's taskman, tells Radio Free Europe that following the presentation of preliminary results on key air pollutants, according to the need, other actions will be taken in line with the legislation in force.

“The problem of air pollution is a fixed problem since post-war and given that there has been no action and application of the legal framework from the relevant institutions, we have come to this situation that is impossible to get rapid positive results”.

It's good that Kosovo now has an inter-management force to deal with air pollution, which is dealing precisely with reducing air pollution. We have asked that some of the relevant ministries work on fulfilling their institutional obligations”, Sahiti says.

And, to improve air quality in Kosovo, several steps have now begun.

Sahiti suggests that he has been asked by the Ministry of Economic Development to have investments in expanding the co-generation network so that citizens do not use coal for heating.

Also, from this minister, Sahiti added, the decision has been required to cut off free coal from being given to KEK workers, since allegedly the same coal had been sold to other people in several Pristina neighbourhoods, where there was great use of coal heat.

Weeks ago, Task-Forca for air protection from pollution, which operates under the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning, has adopted a decision to prevent the use of coal for heating in public institutions' facilities.

This decision is expected to proceed for approval in the Government of Kosovo.

On the other hand, Lorik Mucaj from the organisation “Gren Art Center”, says that in terms of air quality, much remains to be done. According to him, Kosovo institutions' initiatives concerning air protection should be experienced.

Mucaj also points out that citizens should also be thinking about contributing as much to environmental protection as possible.

Our citizens are aware, but are not doing what they can for the environment. I prefer citizens to try to find more environmental alternatives for heating during the winter. This is the key problem that will bring us this year's extreme polluted air”, Mucaj says.

For degradation of the living environment, Kosovo was also criticised by international mechanisms. In the reports of these mechanisms, Kosovo was ranked at the lowest level of environmental standards in the Western Balkans and in Europe.

Meanwhile, another action to reduce air pollution Kosovo institutions are expected to undertake has to do with CarsSays Leutrim Sahiti from the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning.

For this we have an administrative guide for the allowed air discharge rates that are in the power of the Ministry of Infrastructure, where it is making the last preparations for starting to implement this instruction that means that any car that goes into technical control should be measured by car gas and all cars that exceed the set values will not be able to circulate in communications”, Sahiti points out.

Official data shows that more than 315 thousand registered cars are in Kosovo, where the average age of cars that circulate in Kosovo is 18 years.

Last winter, air quality in Kosovo's capital, Pristina, had reached an alarming level, exceeding all recommended standards. According to data from the Agency for Environmental Protection and the American Embassy, the values of the PM 2.5 were above the allowed values.