KEK's challenges to stability, energy sector security

Corporation leaders consider these are necessary investments to ensure security and energy stability in Kosovo for the next 40 years.

The largest capital investment is designed to take place in the expansion of the existing mine and the opening of the new mine, and also the rehabilitation of the “Kosovo thermal power plant B”.

In thermal power plant “Kosovo B” around 270m euros must be invested that will enable the establishment of credibility and extension of the life of the plant, as well as the achievement of pollution parameters according to European Union standards.

This need has resulted in a study of EU-funded feasibility, which has also been presented to the Actionary (Kosovo government) since May 2017.

“Of these investments, about 76 million are grants separated by the European Union for building new electrofils and denouncing, while the rest are envisioned to be made by the Kosovo Energy Corporation, where it is seen that only now are the problems highlighted in the furnace due to the age of the pipes. But those tubes are meant to change in 2020-2021. And in the past year we have announced the Government of the Republic of Kosovo about the challenges and difficulties we will have in the future if these projects are not financed. With the current energy price we have, even though we have a profit, it is impossible with that profit to cover all these costs. So our request is that there be assistance from the Government of the Republic of Kosovo or that there be an increase in the electricity fee that we have applied for or have submitted an offer to the KEDS” company, KEK managing director Nyazi Thaci has announced.

The implementation of this project will affect the more stable operation, the availability of units and the security of electricity production that will ensure the country's energy security and the safety of its supply more stable by thermal power plants.

“Resilination of thermal power plant “Kosovo B” extends life expectancy for the next 25 years, which will operate according to European standards in terms of the environmental part. Similarly, the security of the supply or security of the generation blocs in Thermocentralin Kosova B, will increase both in the generator and in the turbine, as well as in the furnace, which will have investments and will affect some areas or most areas that we have ongoing problems due to the age of equipment”, Thaci said.

From April 15th of this year, realisation of the envisioned investments will begin.

Then the B1 unit will shut down from where the electrofiling detox will start and on the other side the reconstruction for the furnace piece, for the dENOX reduction. This is an extremely good project, which we're already finalising will occur and will be implemented in 2020 in the B1 unit and in the B2 unit will be realised in 2021. The feasibility study that we are currently implementing has two components: environmental components and it's the component of longevity extension. These two are connected, very closely connected because they have impacts on technological processes.

But on the other hand, there is no point in investing in the environment and not investing in technology and opposite”, said the director of the Kosova B Terminal, Louis Imeri.

In terms of coal production, research conducted by German company M The IBRAG, the opening of the new mine, which will enable the raw power supply for existing thermal power plants and the Kosova e Re thermal power plant, is needed.

“KEK currently operates with the Sibovci South-West Mine with an average production of 8 million tonnes per year, meeting the demand for generation capacities. The current Sibovci South-West project has enough reserves by 2027, while after that it continues with the new mine, which as a project exists, means KEK has long taken steps to preserve the supply of coal capacity-generating capacities based on the Kosovo Government's energy strategy. The new mine is designed to have an average capacity of 10 million tonnes per year, and within the project we have 400 million tons, which means for the next 40 years after the end of the Sibovc mine. South-Western”, Guzim Ternava Professional Councillor for xehetari said.