A company from Albania to investigate coal quality in Obilic

“The contract is about the genomenic and hydrogematic research programme in the southern field, with the aim of research, update and verify of existing geological data for coal quality in the field, the 133 supplemental drilling program” is drawn up, said in the contract. The company from Albania has been the only one declared responsible by KEK, out of six that had applied in this tender. Consortium from Albania, “Bndi Sh. P.C.; A.L.T.E. & GEOSTUDIO 2000; PPC Albania has been declared responsible and then victorious, even though Albania does not have primary power source coal. According to Albania's National Energy Strategy 2018-2030, Albania's primary energy supply is dominated by oil, hydropower and imported electricity, indicating that imports of oil by products, electricity and a small amount of coal make up over 56% of primary energy consumption. Albania's mining strategy judges that the use of coal resources is not convenient, but they can be put to work if coal is used for electricity production. According to energy.al, only that current resources are unable to fuel large thermal power plants, for that reason thermal power plants are proposed up to 5 MW”

Originally on July 2nd of 2018, the first contract to make drilling in the southern and northern KEK fields has been signed. Company from Belgrade, “ENCON Technology & Rudarski Institut Belgrade & Geoing Group” won the contract worth 1.1m euros. It had won this contract without open tender, since the contracting procedure was negotiated without the publication of the contract announcement. She had received the tender after the INKOS Institute, which had offered half a million euros less, had been eliminated from the race as irresponsible. About six months later, on December 28, 2018, KEK has again opened a tender for drilling, but this time drilling would take place only in the southern part of the new mine. On March 28th, KEK has recommended the group of economic operators from Albania, “Bndi Sh. P.C.; A.L.T.E. & GEOSTUDIO 2000; PPC Albania United States”. The operator's offer from Albania was worth 2.5m euros -- half a million less than the value envisioned for the contract.

In October, the contract release was issued, and on November 4th of this year, KEK signed the contract for drilling in the southern part of the new mine. In this tender, KEK had demanded that bidding companies take into account the Kosovo Government's decision, November 21st 2018, to impose a 100 per cent tax on Serbian and Bosnian goods. With the case of bidding, every OE must take into account the government's decision with the number 0176, date 21.11.2018 for taxing 100% for Serbia's goods and Bosnia and Herzegovina”, KEK's announcement said. This KEK report was published on the E-procurement page on February 12th, nearly two months after the contract announcement was issued.

Calexo.com in April had written how a company from Serbia had won the contract, and another from Albania has been recommended for contract by the Kosovo Energy Corporation to drill in the northern and southern areas of the new mine. Both KEK contracts are worth about 3.6m euros.