Kurti: Energy strategy, pave the way for Kosovo towards energy transition

The prime minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, attended the Kosovo Solar Forum for 2022, aimed at promoting investments in renewable energy sources and being organised by the Ministry of Economy, with support from the USAID Development Agency.

Prime Minister Kurti launched the case with the global energy crisis and unprecedented challenges in this sector. He stressed that the energy issue remains the government's top priority.

“As Government of the Republic of Kosovo we are working intensively towards ensuring supply, reliable and affordable for all citizens and businesses. This provision will promote the environmental protection agenda and at the same time lead our socioeconomic transformation, as part of the direct energy transition”, Prime Minister Kurti said.

He stressed that the work led by the Ministry of Economy has laid the foundation for the next 10 years and has its vision of energy for the next 30 years. The 2022-31 Energy Strategy, as well as the Energy Renewable Resources Law, for the first time pave Kosovo's way towards energy transition and defuelisation by placing renewable energy sources in its centre, he said.

Dedicatedness and work on necessary inter-sectoral reforms, according to the Government head, are key to attracting major and content investments for the country and its development. And when these efforts combine with the moment we have this year for energy sector, we are certain to expect major developments in this sector, the prime minister said further.

Speaking of goals for the following decades of energy, Prime Minister Kurti said they are materialising with concrete and meaningful projects like Solar Park in KEK, Solar4Kosovo, launching the first solar auction intended to do at the end of the year, as well as the largest investment in the country over the last two decades, the MCC Committee Programme, which will be signed next week in Washington.

Full word of Prime Minister Kurti:

Honored Economy Minister, Mrs. Artane Rizvanolli

Dear Ambassador of the United States of America to Kosovo Jeffrey Havenier,

Dear attenders,

Ladies and gentlemen,

At this time when the entire globe is facing unprecedented challenges in the energy sector and the energy transition that we are all going through, obviously the sector and energy issue remains our top priority.

Both, overcoming the global energy crisis and energy transition have three key elements central: the first, ensuring the security of supply for each citizen of the Republic of Kosovo, second, ensuring the sustainability of energy costs, and third, diversification of energy resources we use.

This year, our job led by the Ministry of Economy has laid the foundation for the next 10 years and has its vision for the next 30 years. The 2022-31 Energy Strategy, as well as the Energy Renewable Resources Law, for the first time pave Kosovo's way towards energy transition and defuelisation by placing renewable energy sources in its centre.

These goals for the following decades, we are materialising with concrete and meaningful projects like Solar Park in KEK, Solar4Cosovo, launching the first solar auction we intend to do at the end of the year, as well as the biggest investment in the country over the last two decades, the MCC Kompact Programme, which will be signed next week in Washington.

As the Government of the Republic of Kosovo, we are actively working towards ensuring supply, reliable and affordable for all citizens and businesses. This supply will promote the environmental protection agenda and at the same time lead our socioeconomic transformation as part of the right energy transition.

Our dedication to necessary inter-sectorial reforms is key to attracting major and conservative investments for the country and its development. And when these efforts combine with the moment we have this year for energy sector, we are certain to expect major developments in this sector.

The Kompacts programme and accumulated capacities that will be accumulated by the grant of the Millennium Challenge Corporation will put Kosovo at the top of world energy developments for the first time. Such innovation serves the sector and serves the country. And such innovation is made available by alternative sources of energy and our green transition.

I want to thank the representatives of the United States of America in Kosovo, who are an essential part of our transition and energy development, and in particular the Development Agency U. AID, whose leader, Zeinah Salahi, is here with us for the continued contribution to this Solar Forum.

Along with Ambassador Hovenier and Minister Rizvanolli we will then visit the Solar Fair and invite all the participants who are here today to join us to see closely the products and services local solar companies offer, as well as the possibilities of renewable energy resources already being offered in Kosovo.