The Kosovo Energy Corporation (KEK) has reassured citizens that there will be a regular supply of electricity, addressing any concerns about potential outages following the attack on the Ibër-Lepenci Canal in Zubin Potok on November 29.
As a result of this attack and the risk of the country being left without electricity, energy experts have called on responsible institutions to explore alternative solutions, highlighting the need to diversify energy sources rather than relying solely on the Ibër-Lepenci system.
One of the potential alternatives mentioned is the creation of an artificial lake.
KEK spokesman Skënder Bucolli stated that the corporation has secured electricity through an agreement with the Albanian Energy Corporation (KESH). While this agreement is not mandatory, both corporations assist each other when necessary.
“We do not buy or sell electricity from KESH, but we exchange megawatt hours between our countries when needed,” Bucolli explained. “In the past, we’ve exchanged energy, mainly by depositing electricity during the summer when KESH needs it more, and then drawing energy from them during the winter when we need it most.”
Bucolli also assured that KEK is looking into other alternatives for cooling power plants, including the possibility of sourcing energy from the Batllava Lake or even creating an artificial lake.
He emphasized that despite outdated infrastructure, the citizens will continue to be supplied with electricity. However, in the event of a breakdown in new plants, temporary outages of up to 42 hours could occur. For now, he said, there are no anticipated problems, as operational security has been improved across all production units.
“Currently, two power plants are not reliant on the same source. Kosovo A has not been affected, as it is supplied from another source, while only Kosovo B was impacted. We will explore the options to source from Batllava or create an artificial lake in the mining areas, although there have been past attempts, and we will look into the possibilities in the future to build reserves for emergency situations,” Bucolli said.
Bucolli also noted that although KEK’s technical capacities and equipment are outdated, all necessary repairs have been carried out. At Kosovo B, even capital repairs have been done, given the advanced age of the equipment. While temporary outages may occur, the operational security across all units is now more robust, he added.
Pranvera Dobruna-Kryeziu, Chair of the National Committee “CIGRE Kosovo,” explained that after the attack, a significant amount of time, financial resources, and investment would be required to restore the canal to a fully operational state without obstacles.
As an alternative, Dobruna-Kryeziu recommended that KEK explore the possibility of creating a reserve basin, which should remain full at all times to ensure that the cooling of power plants is not dependent on water from Ibër-Lepenci.
“It’s crucial that the energy infrastructure in Kosovo is resilient. The good thing is that the energy network withstood the attack. Everyone worked together to ensure the water needed for cooling in Kosovo B arrived, preventing production from halting. However, restoring the canal will require significant time, resources, and investment to ensure it operates smoothly in the future,” she said.
Dobruna-Kryeziu also stressed the need for increased investment in the energy infrastructure sector to ensure long-term stability and sustainability.
She emphasized the importance of developing renewable energy sources, which are produced domestically and do not rely on imports or infrastructure.
“One positive aspect is the development of renewable energy sources, as they are produced locally in Kosovo, reducing reliance on imports or infrastructure. Kosovo faces challenges in managing its energy sector, and the recent issues demonstrate just how vulnerable the system can be. However, we have avoided the crisis, and citizens can be confident that they won’t be left without electricity. Energy can also be imported, but infrastructure is key. Therefore, we are advocating for significant investments in infrastructure to ensure long-term stability,” Dobruna-Kryeziu concluded.
