Kosovo benefits from Germany 10m euros in central heating for Pristina

The deal was signed by Finance Minister Bedri Hamza, Juergen Kern, Chief of the Energy Division for Southeast Europe and Turkey at KfW central office Juergen Kern, project manager responsible for KfW projects in the Kosovo energy sector, and Bosnia and Herzegovina Nicolas Schuetzofer, as well as NP chief executive head “Termokos” Naser Cannolly. While the participants were also Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Kosovo Christian Heldt and Pristina Deputy Chairman Selim Pacolli.

In this case, Finance Minister Bedri Hamza stressed that “for me today is a special pleasure in signing the next agreement for the central heating project for the Pristina municipality -- the project to expand the Temoko network. This project presents the most important project for the citizens of Pristina and one of the largest projects ever implemented in the post-war war for this municipality”, said the Prime Minister's announcement.

According to him, the project has so far been realised with the support of the German government, the European Union, the Swedish Government and the Luxembourg Government. Also, the Pristina municipality and the Kosovo government have contributed. To this stage, investment amounts to 37m euros. The project was implemented in 2014. So far, Thermokos has offered heat based on the co-generation system for approximately 63,000 consumers for three seasons.

The agreement we signed today is grant and is worth 10m euros, which represents German government support for Pristina citizens through the Termokos project. Deal is to finance phase V III and IX of the project, which concerns expanding the network for other parts of Pristina as well. In addition to this agreement, the agreement on Luxembourg Government's next contribution to the value of 2.3m euros will soon be signed, Minister Hamza added.

He also disclosed that “Mister plan presented in February by the Pristina municipality and Terkos identifies the needs for investing in this project with co-generation elements. This agreement and that of the Luxembourg Government address the need for investment for 12.3m euros”.

“The thermocos project is of particular importance since its beginning instead of burning the mazut that causes high emissions, thermal steam is used for heating through the key to the Kosova B thermal power plant, transformed into co-generating”, Minister Hamza added.

In this case, Minister Hamza also thanked the German government for the support of the offer and all other donors, the Pristina municipality and its citizens, and I hope that central heating projects will soon be realised for other Kosovo municipalities as well.

While the ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Kosovo Christian Heldt said that “this is a continuation of the joint work of KfW and Termokos for a project affecting all Pristina citizens”

I am pleased that after presenting the masterplane in February of this year, today I have the satisfaction that together with Finance Minister Bedri Hamza and KfW representatives who have come from Frankfurt, we will sign this continuation of the” project, German Ambassador Heldt told him.

He also thanked Minister Hamza for the co-operation and stressed that he has the impression that whenever they are with Minister Hamza on any project or meeting, they have good results, as is the signing of this agreement.

Southeast Europe and Turkey's power division chief at KfW's central office, Jurergen Kern, expressed satisfaction with his participation in Kosovo to celebrate, as he said the continuation of the second phase of completion of the project for the heating system in Pristina, Pristina. In 2011 we have begun our commitment to supporting the heating system in Pristina, and the financial agreement in 2011 has been signed in that world by Minister Bedri Hamza”, Mr. Kern.

He also stressed that “Most of you remember the black smoke coming out of Termoco's smoke and the smoke you're not seeing for years now. Now you have heat 24 hours a day and we have the satisfaction of citizens at 94 percent. The subsidies they have for 5.3 million are now reduced to zero percent”.

While Pristina municipality deputy head Selim Pacolli stressed that within this mandate the expansion of Pristina's heating network and its rehabilitation, and he also added that Pristina is gradually receiving its deserved looks as a metropolitan city. /Lajmi.net/