Kosovo and coal
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With funding from the World Bank, Kosovo is currently embarking on a power sector strategy that involves closing five outdated generations units by 2015, cleaning up poorly managed ash dumps produced by those units, and building a new lignite mine and associated generating plant.[1]
Contents
Coal and power companies
Kosovo Energy Corporation (KEK) is the sole power corporation in the Republic of Kosova. KEK is vertically integrated and was legally incorporated in 2005. KEK was part of the Yugoslavia power system, and focused in production of energy from coal, with power supplied from plants outside of Kosovo. By the late 1990s, the core business of the Corporation became the production of coal and energy in Kosovo, through two open-cast coal mines - the Mirash mine and Bardh mine - and two power plants, PP “Kosova A” and PP "Kosova B”, which cover the territory of Kosovo. There are approximately 400,000 customers and 8,000 employees in different sectors.[2]
A 2010 EU report stated that the "legal unbundling of the distribution and supply functions of the Kosovo Energy Corporation (KEK) is due at the end of 2010 with a view to privatisation. Until completion of the new Kosovo power plant project, the other functions will remain integrated in KEK."[3]
Coal Mining Operations
Sobovc Coal Mine
Sibovc Coal Mine is located in Obilić, near Pristina.
Mirash and Bardh Coal Mines
The Mirash and Bardh open-cast coal mines are lignite coal mines in Kosovo operated by the Kosovo Energy Corporation (KEK).[2]
Existing coal-fired power stations
Kosova A
This plant, located several miles northwest of Pristina, is operated by Kosovo Energy Corporation (KEK). It is five units and uses coal from the Mirash coal mine.
Plant closures
The "Energy Strategy of Kosovo" aims for the closure of five old power generation units by the end of 2015, since the units cannot economically be brought into compliance with the EU Directive for Large Combustion Plants. They would need to be closed by 2017 at the latest, as required under the Energy Community Treaty. In closing the units, Kosovo is being supported by the European Commission in preparing the decommissioning of "Kosovo A" in favor of a new lignite coal plant.[1]
Proposal for the New Kosovo power plant
A 2010 EU report stated that plans for the development of a new Kosovo power plant (using lignite coal) had been reconfigured: "The initial installed capacity will be two units of 200-300 MW, the Sibovc lignite field will be developed immediately and participation in the Kosovo B power plant will be included in the package to be offered to investors with a view to refurbishment. The legal unbundling of the distribution and supply functions of the Kosovo Energy Corporation (KEK) is due at the end of 2010 with a view to privatisation. Until completion of the new Kosovo power plant project, the other functions will remain integrated in KEK."[4]
The World Bank is supporting the "Lignite Power Technical Assistance Project" with a World Bank grant of US$10.5 million and a European Commission grant of Euros 2 million, as well as providing "advisory services" for the inclusion of private capital in the new lignite mine and power plant.[1]
Articles and Resources
Sources
- ↑ Jump up to: 1.0 1.1 1.2 Cleaning Up Kosovo’s Dangerous ‘Black Spot’, World Bank, accessed May 13, 2011
- ↑ Jump up to: 2.0 2.1 "About KEK" Kosovo Energy Corporation website, accessed May 2011.
- ↑ "EU report 2010" Energy Community, EU Report 2010.
- ↑ "EU report 2010" Energy Community, EU Report 2010.
Related SourceWatch articles
Europe and coal
- Austria and coal
- Belgium and coal
- Bulgaria and coal
- France and coal
- Germany and coal
- Greece and coal
- Hungary and coal
- Italy and coal
- Netherlands and coal
- Norway and coal
- Poland and coal
- United Kingdom and coal
- World Bank and coal
External Articles
Background information
- European Environment Agency, European Pollutant Emission Register. (This has a list of power stations and their current emissions).
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