Contour Global Asks Kosovo over 20m euros KP Government Surprised and Disillusioned

The contract, signed by the Haradinaj government amid much criticism, was cancelled by the government's own government-changing company in Kosovo.

The 500-megawatt project, estimated to provide half the electricity needed for Kosovo, however, was opposed by environmentalists to economists, who considered Kosovo to be giving too much to the company. Among them was the Vetevendosje Movement, whose coming to power, apparently influenced Contour from Kosovo.

From the Kosovo government, they have told Gazeta Express that there are “disappointed” that Global Contour reported on the removal of the contract. The other suggests that the American paper company requires 20m euros from the government.

“MEPTINIS has accepted the company's letter “Contour Global” of May 24, 2020. We are surprised and disappointed that the Contour Global has chosen to announce that it is aimed at breaking agreements with Government and to submit an unfounded and unfair request for the 20053.125,63 euros development costs of the” project.

The letter has been received, and in the Government of Kosovo they have launched a team's commitments to make a decision about the Contour Global request.

“Zj. Hajdari [the economy minister] is also committed to providing the committee with the support needed for the right decision-making. Support will include legal advice from a prepared and witnessed”

In the Government of Kosovo, asked whether to pay the money that the Global Contour is asking for, they say they will act in accordance with the law.

“Project Steering Committee makes decisions on behalf of Government. As in any case, Kurti Government will act in full accordance with the law and public interest, engaging in economic development and the welfare of the citizens of the Republic of Kosovo”

Commission for Finance Chairman Iron Murati has told Gazeta Express on Wednesday that the American company owes the Government of Kosovo, as it is the one removed from the project.

“The Global Contour Company according to a report published in Reuters, on 17 March of this year, has declared it drawn from coal projects, including those in Kosovo. According to the contract, it has been Contour Global, which owes the government 8m euros for covering the cost of the process, because it has been Contour Global, which has decided to withdraw from the project”, Murati, who is the deputy of LVOCE, has said.

In Government, they say that Minister Hajdari has invited U.S. company directors to the conversation and has not responded. Instead, they've sent him a letter of cut-off.

The “Lerra is the continuation of the contempt that the Global Contour has shown towards its contractary obligations. On March 10th, the Government has re-founded the project's management committee “Energy from Linjiti”, which includes the New Kosovo thermal power plant. On 12 March, Minister Hajdari has announced representatives of the Contour Global that it requires further discussions about the project, in particular about the preconditions the parties had to meet. On March 17th, Contour Global has publicly announced unilateral withdrawal from the project, rejecting contractual obligations, blaming Government without basis and expressing baseless speculations on political issues, at the expense of the Republic of Kosovo”, it is said in the Government's response.

In a letter published by Reporter.net, Contour Global ( GenCo has sent the Kosovo government on a regular basis to declare the expenses caused by development.

“by 31 March 2020, the expenditures caused during the project's development by GenCo were 31.5m euros. The expenditures were in line with the budget of the cost of development discussed with the Government of Kosovo and presented on March 21st 2019. The total amount of growth costs spent by GenCo to date exceeds the amount of 19.7m euros”, written on paper.