Minister Rizvanolli: There are only two options, severe reductions or price increases

Economy Minister Artane Rizvanolli at the extraordinary energy expensive session, said Kosovo as a state does not have enough capacity to produce consumed electricity, especially during winter and high import prices.

Minister Rizavanoll stressed that in the situation Kosovo is in, there are only two options, severe reductions, or increased tariffs.

Since 2017 when the tariff block was removed, we consume more electricity year after year. We as a country don't have enough capacity to produce the energy we consume, especially during winter we depend on imports. During the months of December, January and so far we have imported about 10 per cent of the energy. Europe, now Kosovo is facing an extraordinary crisis. Our dependence on import has not been a problem until prices have been 6 to 9 cents for KWH... our energy system is due to collapse, from these differences in the purchase price and sales prices, about 100m euros in debts in the system have been accumulated. We're the poorest country in Europe, but producers and citizens don't ask us that. These are painful facts, but we have to be honest with ourselves and citizens, and there are two options, severe reductions or increased tariffs. We all agree that reductions are the worst option for citizens and the country's economy”, she said.

The economy minister further stressed that the government does not have the opportunity to reject the demand or proposal of an independent institution such as the Energy Regulatory Office, until she added that our state is not alone in this crisis.

“What we can do, is what we've done now in a pro-active way. We have pledged subsidy, which alleviates the impact on all consumers and businesses... In this crisis we are not alone, prices in the countries of the region have increased around 10 per cent despite the fact that they have allocated hundreds of millions of euros, and over 40 per cent are expected to rise in the spring in Britain and Turkey”, it has further said.

Assembly deputies have gone on break until 1600.