The attack on the Ibër-Lepenc canal in Zubin Potok in November 2024 caused more than €376,000 in material damage and disrupted water supplies to several municipalities for up to five days, according to testimony from Ernest Kerqeli, Director of the Water and Generation Department at the Ibër-Lepenc company.
Appearing as a witness in the case before the Basic Court in Pristina, Kerqeli told prosecutors that the explosion severely damaged one of Kosovo’s most important water and energy infrastructure systems, which supplies water to the “Kosova B” Thermal Power Plant and provides water for more than 500,000 residents.
“From both my position as director of Ibër-Lepenc and as an engineer, this canal is the main artery without which Kosovo cannot function in terms of energy production and water supply,” Kerqeli said.
He explained that after receiving information about the explosion on the evening of November 29, 2024, the company immediately dispatched emergency teams and informed management and Kosovo Police about the incident.
“When we arrived at the scene, we saw that the damage was extremely serious. We had never faced such a level of destruction before,” Kerqeli testified.
According to him, emergency measures were taken to maintain water flow toward the “Kosova B” power plant, including the installation of six temporary pipes with a diameter of more than 900 millimeters.
Although the temporary solution allowed water to continue flowing, it did not operate at full capacity. Kerqeli said that by around 2:00 a.m. on the night of the attack, the company had restored approximately 75 percent of normal supply capacity.
“Water supply to water utilities was interrupted for three to four days, and in some cases up to five days. Even after five days, the utilities were not able to operate at full capacity,” he said.
Kerqeli stated that the damage was later repaired through a rehabilitation project financed by a World Bank loan, with the total value of the damage assessed at more than €376,000.
“I have not seen or met the defendants,” Kerqeli told the court when asked whether he knew the accused individuals.
The attack on the Ibër-Lepenc canal occurred on November 29, 2024, in the village of Varagë in Zubin Potok. According to the indictment filed by Kosovo’s Special Prosecution, Jovan Viqentijeviq, Dragisha Viqentijeviq, and Igor Dimoviq are accused of offenses including endangering constitutional order through damage to public infrastructure, terrorism, illegal possession of weapons, and espionage.
The prosecution alleges that approximately 20 kilograms of TNT explosives were placed inside the canal after a prior agreement between the accused and other unidentified individuals. The explosion caused severe structural damage, interrupted water supplies, threatened electricity production, and caused financial losses to Ibër-Lepenc amounting to €376,774.70.
