Rizvanolli: MCC to save Kosovo at least 15m euros per year

Those statements were made 5 July in Pristina at the launch of a meeting with the US MCC delegation, days after the corporate board approved the $226.7m programme for Kosovo.

Rizvanolli said this programme, including $202m grant directly from the US Government for Kosovo, is the largest investment in state history and the largest in the region.

“This programme will bring to Kosovo power reserves through maximum capacity batteries around 347 megawatts of spare hours, which will carry out the stabilisation function of network frequencies, as well as the use of energy stored overnight in busy hours during the day, which means reducing expensive import of energy”, Rizvani said.

The minister added that the programme would also develop labour force skills and try to include as many women as possible in the energy sector.

The compact program will enable a rapid and fair energy transition in Kosovo to a future of renewable energy. The energy strategy, as you know, envisions the installation of at least 1,400 megawatts of solar and wind energy capacities, which will be locked into reserves to be used in times when we do not have enough wind or sun by means of batteries to buy through this” programme, Rizvanolli said.

Meanwhile, MCC Director for Kosovo Sarah Olmstead said that the compact programme comes at a time when the world is facing the energy crisis, which is being driven further by Russia's war in Ukraine.

All [on the MCC board] were excited about this programme. I've heard from all representatives how critical and how timely this programme is and really see it as the power to help Kosovo in clean energy and given the war in Ukraine and the challenges of last winter, the feeling was that Kosovo should not waste time to get this” programme, she said.

Olmstead also said she is happy that the programme also focuses on women's development and support, while adding that Kosovo has one of the lowest rates in the world of women's participation in the labour market.

She said she expects the compact programme to be signed this month so that it can then be ratified by the Assembly of Kosovo, while Rizvanolli said it is working to ratify the agreement with the MCC as soon as possible.

According to American officials, the first procurement for the programme is expected to be launched after two years.

In May of this year, the Government of Kosovo and the MCC agreed to the new compact programme. In addition to $202m, which are grants directly from the U.S. government and tools that should not be returned, Kosovo will contribute to this programme of about $35m, while 2 million will be funds from the US Institute of Development Catalys.