Energy supply, risk of leaving companies, and Kosovo youth ecstasy

Representatives of the business community and political analysts have warned that increasing the price of energy and the immediate transition to the open market risks removing companies from Kosovo and promoting an ecstasy of young people.

They say Z's decision The RRE is burdening the economy and making the functioning of many businesses impossible.

Kosovo Economic Ode Chairman Lulzim Rafuna told Online Economy that many foreign companies will leave the country due to increased electricity prices, while local businesses are being forced to stop their investments.

There'll be an evacuation of companies, especially foreign companies we have. We have been warned that they will move to northern Macedonia. There will also be evacuations because there are interventions in business investments and business is forced to interrupt investments. Also, if it continues with this price of electricity, when it is now 100 percent more expensive in August, add up to September and October 200-300 percent that during the wintertime the price of electricity will go up, no doubt there will be a price for our product and service. Our product will eventually come by reducing or failing demand for our product. The space Kosovo's product or service that local companies have offered will take from foreign companies through export, growth of imports in our country respectively, and lose hope for the future”, he said.

Rafuna noted that employment is also at risk, since many young people are leaving the country.

There is no doubt that youth is running away, despite all these possibilities, rising wages, yet it has been a challenge to find the workforce. This young man or she will find herself in the foreign market, go outside”, he said.

On the other hand, analyst Africa Kasolli told the Online Economy that the situation is a consequence of the ZERE decision to move big businesses into the open energy market without proper preparation and infrastructure.

We have faced tremendous pressures, especially since the price of electricity price of 16 percent for all citizens of Kosovo and the obligation of large businesses that suddenly and immediately emerge on the open energy market. Confirming the ZERE decision also from the recent Komercial Court's insistence appears to have braved this energy administrative body, which has threatened that if all commercial subjects do not contract with some of the licensed distribution companies will follow their gap.

It's a very big blow, not just currently. Even adverse economic parameters show that the trade deficit between Kosovo and other countries has grown enormously. Today Kosovo imports in size of arms and much less exports”, he said.

Casolli warned that an immediate application of energy market liberalisation, without transitional phases, could cause serious economic and social consequences.

The immediate application without preparing the terrain and infrastructure for such a transition, as businesses are looking for, none of which is against the energy market, but that is gradually planned and step-by-step so that they do not feel that they are burdened with unexpected spending on the road. I'm afraid, I'm concerned that the immediate application of these measures will be a source of a new national ecstasy, because many companies will not be able to deal with this coming change. Many are already just reporting that they have begun to close their production. All this chaos and economic chaos are taking place at a time when the political scene also continues to be paralyzed”, he said.

The ZRRE has announced that from 16 August, all businesses that meet the conditions for emerging on the open energy market have been cut off from the power grid unless they have contracted suppliers.

Market liberalisation decision has entered into force on June 1st 2025, and imposes all companies with over 50 workers or circulation over 10m euros annually to switch to the open energy market.. /Periscopi/