Matoshi: No plant permission will be given unless the environment is respected

In Express Interview at KTV, on Environment Day, he has said that a plant can only be built with an environmental consent, but after construction it needs work permits. It has said that no work permits will be allowed unless the investor turns the environment into an acceptable condition. Matoshi has said the energy regulator is obliged to take action for investors to apply for work permits.

“We don't interrupt the work. We are important authority for the development of hydropower plants. Part of the permits for building hydropower plants are taken from us, but not the first or last. Environmental permission is required to operate a hydropower plant. It can be built with an environmental consent. Appropriation and permission differ. In favor are the conditions to be followed to obtain permission. There are conditions that have to be met to operate the hydropower plant, which are now due to environmental permits. We have made this known and the energy regulator is obliged to take action against the law to force investors to apply, and then our commissions to leave. No permit will be granted unless it has turned the environment into an environmentally acceptable condition. They need to know that some of their investment will be improving the damage they can do”, he said.

According to Matosh, the investor for the hydropower plant in Decani has not yet applied for work permits. He has said that amid consent and work permit, a hydropower plant could use a trial period of six months, but should not be allowed to operate for years.

I also said the ZRE Board. He's the regulator. As a result of the contacts we have behind, as a result of the talks, it happened in Decani where one of the hydropower plants was withdrawn. I expect the ZRE to take the same action on each hydropower plant that now operates”, he said.

According to him, the Law on National Parks has become later than the construction of several hydropower plants. With the Law for National Parks, Nemun and Sharrin have faced challenges and problems to manage. He's been complaining about the lack of parking.

The National Parks have to say it's been guarded by workers working on the contract from 2013 and has had the government's commitment, not the past to engage enough resources and personnel to preserve our national parks. Some initiatives we have taken have come up with obstacles from interest groups perhaps because of non-communication with residents, perhaps for other interests of some residents. We've also faced obstacles to setting up washing, which we've been thinking about cutting illegal cutters”, he said.

While saying that Kosovo has 12 percent of its territory protected, Matosh has demanded increased investments in national parks. He has said that how areas for tourism development opportunities should not remain without investments.

Matoshi has reiterated that thermal power plants, coal use and large number of cars, and their oldness are the main cause of air pollution.

It has distinguished the new measure that has entered into force from June 1st for measuring gas emissions from cars. Matoshi added that this measurement is done in each vehicle controller when their registration is done. He has remembered that after three months it would be possible to register cars that meet at least Euro 4.