Kosovo eyes Denmark for defuelisation of electricity

In this regard, the Kosovo Ministry of Economy signed a letter of approval with Denmark's counterpart ministry on Monday.

To go into effect, the agreement must be ratified in the Kosovo Assembly with two-thirds of the deputies' votes.

The Kosovo government considers Denmark's help as necessary for “energy transition”, but criticism of nontransparity over paper-friendly gives opposition and energy field experts.

The letter of satisfaction stresses that, if the agreement goes into effect, the Denmark government is aiming to support relevant programmes and projects [in terms of utilisation of renewable energy sources] up to 30m euros, in an initial period of five”.

Until the main focus is expected to be on the green transition, up to 2m and 500 thousand euros are expected to be dedicated to projects promoting rule of law, democracy and human rights”, it says on paper.

Without providing many more related details, Kosovo Economy Minister Artane Rizvanolli said on Monday that this investment would be necessary for the realisation of Kosovo's Energy Strategy.

The energy sector has faced numerous challenges and this recent energy crisis has shown us once again the fragility of the energy system. We intend to defuel the energy sector” by 2050, Rizvanolli said.

Renewable sources of electricity production are considered -- water, wind and sun -- power plants, windmills and solar panels respectively.

Government officials signed on Monday with the Danish Government another letter of approval, which concerns providing 300 prison cells in Kosovo in use for the state of Denmark.

Government officials led by the Vetevendosje Movement said the discussion on these has started by the former Kosovo government, led by the Democratic League of Kosovo.

However, LDK deputy Valentina Bunnjaku-Rexiepi tells Radio Free Europe that the talks have had to be more transparent.

The “does not yet have the LDK stance, this signature must be carefully analysed, it should be analysed before it can be signed”, it says.

For lack of transparency, the Government also criticises the other opposition MP, Ariana Musliu-Shoshi, from the Democratic Party of Kosovo.

And we've understood when it came to the media, because you know the Government is not transparent with us as the opposition. Any international agreement should be in accordance with the opposition, because opposition votes” are needed, she says.

Alliance for the Future of Kosovo MP Albena Resiti, a member of the Parliamentary Commission for Environment, says she hopes that the letter of approval for investments in renewable energy will be discussed on the commission as soon as possible.

Coal is the main source of electricity production in Kosovo.

However, many countries of the world aim to rid themselves of this fuel, which reportedly increases pollution and results in negative effects on global warming.

According to data from the Energy Regulatory Office in Kosovo (ZRRE), the total capacity for electricity generation in Kosovo in 2020 has been about 1,110 megawatts per hour.

Of this amount, 86.5 percent have been generated from thermal power plants and the rest from renewable energy sources.

Fadil Ismajli, energy field expert, says Kosovo will have difficulty reaching the power supply from renewable sources, despite investments.

If we think that from renewable local sources we can make supply insurance or cover Kosovo's consumption, it's almost impossible”, Ismajli tells Radio Free Europe.

According to him, the amount cited as a potential investment by Denmark is not very large when it comes to investments in the energy system.

In constant measurements, Kosovo often ranks among the world's most polluted air.

Erzeona Shala, an environmentalist, sees Denmark's investment and interest in green energy issues in Kosovo as a positive step.

According to her, important in this regard is investment in human resources.

Kosovo as a state needs much expertise and experience taken by experts, especially from states like Denmark”, Shala says.

She acknowledges that Kosovo will find it difficult to achieve total coverage of consumption with renewable energy sources, but says green energy should be targeted to the maximum.

Kosovo has pledged to make defuelling or leaving coal dependence by signing the Agreement at the Sofia Summit in 2020.