The diaspora vote count is continuing, VV achieves the 53rd term, PDK remains at 22, LDK falls to 18
7 hours agoReuters: Kosovo chose coal for Thermocentral despite criticism
Periskopi(8 years ago)
(8 years ago)After decades of lyne service, Kosovo has now been told it must turn off its energy source from abroad, even though it has 14 billion tonnes of reserves, ranking fifth country in the world. Last month, the World Bank told Kosovo it would no longer support a planned coal power plant [...]
After decades of lyne service, Kosovo has now been told it must turn off its energy source from abroad, even though it has 14 billion tonnes of reserves, ranking fifth country in the world.
Last month, the World Bank told Kosovo it would no longer support a planned 500MW <x0) coal plant.
She sought to ensure security to help unlock cheaper loans for the biggest energy project, writes ReutersTransmission Indexline.
The World Bank has recommended that we have a 400 solar park MW, a 170MW wind park and a 350MW storage park,” said Valdrin Luka, Kosovo Minister for Economic Development.
“We don't have the luxury of doing experiments in a poor country like Kosovo, it's a big risk, it's in our interest of national security to provide basic energy within our territory”, he told Reuters.
Other Balkan countries rely on coal to produce energy, with Serbia and Bosnia generating 70 percent and 60 percent, respectively, on coal plants, and both are in the process of increasing new coal capacities.
Energy producer in London Contour Global, who won the tender for the construction of the new Kosovo plant and operating for two decades, is now trying to secure funds elsewhere.
The government pledged the purchase of the factory's overall production at a still set price.
The two old thermal power plants -- Kosova A and Kosovo B -- are among Europe's biggest pollutants. The government said the new factory, to replace Kosovo A, would burn 40 per cent less coal and release 20 times less emissions.
The energy prices in Kosovo, among the cheapest in Europe, would rise 25-35 per cent once the plant goes online, mainly because of environmental protection investments”, Lupa said.
By the end of 2018, the best bidder to build generators in the facility will be made by China Machinery Engineering Corps., an ENKA consortium, Mitsubishi Hitaki Power Systems and Tecnicas Reunidas, a consortium led by General Electric and Hyundai.
As the lignite debate continues, the Peja brewery has invested 5m euros in Kosovo's first solar park. On a sunny day in late October, the 6MW park outside the western city of Gjakova produced 3.6 megawatt hours of electricity.
The entry fee for 1 MWh of solar energy totals 136 euros, while 1 MWh of coal plants is sold for 30 euros.
“We view this kind of investment as a good opportunity and are planning to invest in more capacity”, said Value Devolli, one of the investors.
The country of 1.8 million has installed only 50MW renewable capacity. It hopes to double them by the end of this or early next year.
We should not close ourselves that lignite is the necessary future”, Learta Holaj, from the Institute for Development Policy, said. “If you look at health and environment spending, then we have many reasons to fight such a” project.
