10 minutes agoWater at the tense border: Can Serbia change the Ibrith horse?
Periskopi(2 years ago)
(2 years ago)Although technically possible, changing the Iber River tip from Serbia at the expense of Kosovo would cause violations of international law and conventions, experts say. However, they feel that guarantees are needed for the safety of this flow as well as alternatives to reducing heavy dependence on this endangered dam. The blast that damaged the channel [...]
However, they feel that guarantees are needed for the safety of this flow as well as alternatives to reducing heavy dependence on this endangered dam.
The blast, which damaged the Iber-Lepenc water channel in northern Kosovo, for which Kosovo authorities blamed Serbia, launched a discussion on the security of this vital water supply for the lives of many Kosovars.
The attack could also jeopardise the power supply in Kosovo, because the Kosovo government made a decision to find alternative solutions for the water supply of thermal power plants.
For the November 29th incident, the result of which day is continuing to reduce drinking water for a part of Kosovo, there were several detainees and raids in the country's north.
On the other hand, Serbia denied involvement and said it would also investigate the event itself.
In a statement after the explosion, Serbian President Aleksandar Vuciq even said that since 1985 “there is an idea to change the stream of the Iber River for the needs of the population in towns near the lake, which would result in the drying out of Wyman, from which Kosovo is supplied. According to him, this could happen “with a decision by the Serbian government”. However, he added that he himself opposed this idea when proposed, even when he was prime minister, stressing that he did not want the “nature to be used for political needs”.
According to Kosovo Government spokesman Progress Kryeziu, “Serbia does not even have the right to exploit the Iber River in a way that seriously harms Kosovo, let alone purposely cause this damage, through turn-by”.
According to Kryeziu, the address of Vuciqi, where the idea of changing the flow of the “River is also an indicator that they are behind the attack on Zubin Potok's derarga”, in the Serb-populated north.
So instead of diverting the course of the Ibër, they put the explosive on the Iber-Lepenc” channel, Kryeziu says.
The Iber River, about 270km long, flows into Montenegro, runs through Serbia's territory, enters Kosovo at a length of the 82km bed and then returns to Serbia.
The Ibri then fills Ujman's artificial lake, which also extends to the Kosovo-Serbia border, with two-thirds of it on Kosovo's side.
It supplies seven municipalities with water, used for irrigation, as well as cooling the thermal power plants in Obilic, which produce most of the electricity in the country.
According to the Government of Kosovo, if the attack on Iber-Lepenci canals achieved its target “the consequences would be staggering” and in the form of a chain would cause water shortages, electricity, heating and telecommunications.
The Economy Minister (December 3rd) has signed a decision he owes KEK, Iber-Lepencin and the Pristina water pipeline) find alternative technical solution to supply of the Kosova B power plant with water, with the aim of boosting the safety of the thermal power supply”, says Free Europe Radio, Kryeziu.
Does international law allow change in river flow?
One of the key world instruments that has adjusted the issue of cross-border waters is the 1997 United Nations Convention “for non-vigutal use of international waters”.
Serbia is part of this convention, while Kosovo is not, since it is not yet a member of the UN.
Among other things, the UN Convention envisions that “advancements of proper and reasonable exploitation and participation must be followed for cross-border waters.
Other convention principles are also “The task of not causing significant damage” and “The total responsibility for co-operation”.
This convention also applies to countries at the conflict”, says Free Europe Radio Miguel Borja Bernabé-Crespo, professor at the Geography Department at the University of Madrid.
Bernab-Crespo is also president of “Geographic Thought Group” of the Spanish Geography Association, as well as editor in the scientific magazine “Uy and Terriquet”.
In 2019 he had published a study on water management at Lake Weyman, which is located in a border area that is opposed.
The main problem in this case is that the border exists only from the point of view of Kosovo, as Serbia does not recognise its independence”, says Bernabe-Crespo.
However, even if you don't know him, (Kosovo) represents an actor with a government known to many other states, so the international community can pressure towards a co-operation”, he adds.
According to him, in the event of a decision by the Government of Serbia to change the river, the UN Convention imposes strong reasoning on this.
The Convention provides for states to report each other on any measures that can affect each of the states”, he says, adding that human interests such as water supply and environmental consequences should also be taken into account.
Even according to Kosovo water expert Avdullah Nishori, such a move by the Government of Serbia would be almost impossible, even for economic reasons.
“would be a megaloman investment to try to change (the path) of Ibrit”, says Nishori, who is currently a member of the Iber-Lepenci Company board, which manages the waters of Ibri and Wyman in Kosovo.
According to Nisor, however, Kosovo should think of alternative and emergency resources that serve for cases like this of the latest attack, but also “of natural disasters that endanger water supply”.
He mentions that in the past, mistakes have been made by bypassing ideas about dams or water accumulates that would serve as emergencies.
One, he points out, was proposed by 2016 with a World Bank feasibility study. This investment was never realized.
Under this project, the dam would be built in the village of Mihaliq in the municipality of Vushtrria and could provide emergency supplies several days in case the canal supply was cut off for any reason.
“has been ahead of about 20m euros for infrastructure improvement and, in the context of that, dam”, Nishori shows.
The study, which has seen Radio Free Europe, where construction of the canal was recommended, reportedly would not need expropriation, since the surrounding lands were mainly grass.
Although he does not know for certain the reason for the annulment of the project, according to Nisor, he may have been seen as unnecessary at the time.
Iber-Lepenci's current management and its former officials, so far, have not answered Radio Europe's free questions about this project and why it was cancelled.
Former officials of this company have stated in local media that the “Project has not justified investments”.
Can Kosovo develop new water resources?
According to official data, Kosovo is considered a “water pressure” country due to insufficient water supply capacities.
In the Kosovo Water Strategy for 2023-2027, it is said that compared to countries in the region, such as Albania, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo has the least water resources per capita.
The geographical location is one that most rivers leave Kosovo or very little travel. Then our rivers are seasonal, during winter when we need less water, but during the summer when demand increases, we may not have water”, Nishori explains.
According to him, investments in new water accumulates as long-term solutions take time and cost.
I'm not inclined to say there are quick solutions, because they're usually bad. And there is no free solution, because an infrastructure must be built”, he said.
Kosovo government says for REL has projects to build about eight new water reservoirs that can increase water supply capacities for about 120 percent of current capacities, without including Wyman.
It does not reveal the time when these projects can be realized.
These essential projects are part of the strategy to deal with climate challenges, including drought and floods, and to ensure sustainable water supply for the entire country”, the Government's spokesman notes Progress Kryeziu.
Some of the reservoirs mentioned, the one in the village of Firaya and Shtime respectively, have also been seen in a project dating back decades.
The infrastructure of the Iber-Lepenci Canal, which began to be built in Kosovo in the years of '70s, had provided a consolidated facility to manage the waters of Kosovo's two rivers: Ibrit and Lepentz.
The part of Ibër was accomplished and is functional, while the section of Lepenci, a river in the southeast of the country, never developed so far.
Under Kosovo's water strategy, this infrastructure would enable more sustainable supply for nine other municipalities east and south of Kosovo.
The company Iber-Lepenci told Free Europe Radio that recently the project has been prepared, which includes building a pen in Firaja in the municipality of Shtrpce (central Kosovo), which would be filled by the Lepenc River.
In a second part of the project, according to them, dam construction and accumulated lake in Zoom “, which will be used for irrigation and production of energy”.
According to the company, this “phase is much more expensive”, although it did not share figures or even the possible duration of the project for either of its phases.
Nishori says that in the initial project for Iber-Lepencin “this structure has also seen a channel to go to the Kosova B thermal power plant to serve as alternative”, but according to him, investment could be delayed for years.
“Investime in infrastructure and water recycling”
It's always a good idea to diversify water supply prices. First, not to be largely dependent on common water resources (with Serbia)”, says Bernabo-Crespo.
But, according to him, Kosovo also has urgency for improving water infrastructure “to avoid water loss”
According to official data, in Kosovo's water supply systems, there are water losses at a rate of up to 50 per cent, including physical losses (bulb leaks) or commercial losses (picture and reading errors, thefts etc).
On the other hand, according to the Spanish professor, another disturbing development is climate change that will also reduce water availability due to the most uneven distribution of rainfall”.
According to him, it is essential to develop strategies involving other water resources, such as reducing pollution and improving the quality of underground waters and developing water recycling”.
For the cost it has, it is more effective than other new water resources”, he says.
Government spokesman says about The REL that the executive has envisioned projects such as the rehabilitation of water supply networks in Gjakova, Gjilan, Ferizaj and Prizren, of hundreds of millions of euros, and “target reducing water loss, improving quality and area distribution of”. /Radio Free Europe/
