Kosovo and coal
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Over 80% of Kosovo's primary energy[1] is from coal, and the economy is highly energy intensive.[2] And 90% of electricity is from coal, namely 2 old lignite plants, but the country suffers from shortages of power at peak demand in the winter season. The World Bank is undecided on whether to fund a new 500MW coal plant.[3][4]
Contents
- 1 Coal and power companies
- 2 Coal Reserves
- 3 Coal Mining Operations
- 4 Electricity generation and consumption
- 5 Cost of electricity
- 6 Existing coal-fired power stations
- 7 Plant closures
- 8 Proposal for new power plant
- 9 Alternatives to coal in Kosovo
- 10 Climate change and energy efficiency
- 11 Articles and Resources
Coal and power companies
Kosovo Energy Corporation (KEK) is the sole power corporation in the Republic of Kosovo. KEK is vertically integrated and was legally incorporated in 2005. KEK was part of the Yugoslavian 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 "Kosovo B power station”, which cover the territory of Kosovo. There are approximately 400,000 customers and 8,000 employees in different sectors.[5]
A 2010 European Union 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."[6]
The production capacity of Kosova A power station and Kosova B power station has been hampered by chronic technical problems, including a lightning strike in July 2002. Kosovo has been importing electricity in order to make up some for its deficit. Despite the imports for much of the 1999-2002 electricity was not guaranteed 24 hours a day.[7]
Coal Reserves
Kosovo has the world's 5th largest proven reserves of lignite coal, with 12.5 billion tons of lignite.[3]
Coal Mining Operations
In 2016 8.8 million tons of coal were mined.[8]
Sibovc 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).[5]
Electricity generation and consumption
According to government statistics in 2016 coal generated 6249 GWh(gross) and hydro 235 GWh, and 459 GWh was imported and 1065 GWh exported; whereas 3595 GWh were consumed.[8]
Cost of electricity
Consumers pay 7 €c per kWh,the third-cheapest electricity in Europe.[9]
Existing coal-fired power stations
Kosovo A power station
This plant was built in the early 1960s, and is located several miles northwest of Kosovo's capital city Pristina. It is operated by Kosovo Energy Corporation (KEK). It comprises five units and uses coal from the Mirash coal mine.
Kosovo B power station
Kosovo B power station was built in the early 1980s and is situated a few kilometers from Prishtina/Pristina.[10] After conflict in Kosovo in the 1990s, the European Agency for Reconstruction (EAR) invited tenders for the rehabilitation of Kosovo power station unit B2. In June 2000, the contract was won by a consortium of RWE Power International.[11]
Plant closures
Kosovo A power station will have to be shut down as it cannot economically be brought into compliance with the European Union Large Combustion Plant Directive.
Proposal for new power plant
The government has proposed the lignite-fired Kosova e Re power station[12] and the World Bank is considering supporting the proposed plant.
Alternatives to coal in Kosovo
Solar
With its own solar panel manufacturing plant[13] and 2000 hours of sunshine per year Kosovo has considerable solar potential, but the country has less than 10MW solar and no solar farm auctions have yet been held[14] (in contrast in the cloudier UK a single unsubsidized solar farm is typically 10MW[15]).
Wind
Several wind farms are proposed or under development, including a 105MW wind farm due in 2020.[16]
Biomass
Modernizing the use of biomass (such as wood stoves) for heating might also include replacing coal in some public buildings and district heating.[17]
Common Electricity Market
Environmentalists claim that further expansion of Kosovo's small amount of hydropower would be damaging, and the ministry is considering this.[18] However as neighboring Albania's generation is already almost all hydro the countries are attempting to establish a common electricity market.[19]
Climate change and energy efficiency
The government is considering the development of an integrated national energy and climate plan as part of its movement towards the EU.[20]
Articles and Resources
Sources
- ↑ Energy Efficiency in Kosovo in years 2011-2016 Kosovo Agency of Statistics, March 2018
- ↑ Enlargement countries - energy statistics eurostat, accessed June 2018
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Energy Strategy of Kosovo 2017-2026 Ministry of Economic Development, March 2017
- ↑ World Bank in doubt whether to back Kosovo coal-fired power plant Reuters, June 13, 2018
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "About KEK" Kosovo Energy Corporation website, accessed May 2011.
- ↑ "EU report 2010" Energy Community, EU Report 2010.
- ↑ "Kosovo Energy" UNMIK, October 28, 2012.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Energy Balance Q3 - 2017, Kosovo Agency of Statistics
- ↑ With jobs short but power cheap, Kosovars get mining - cryptocurrency Reuters, 15 June 2018
- ↑ "9.1. Energy Situation" Kosovo Ministry of Planning, accessed May 2011.
- ↑ "RWE’s expertise more than doubles the availability at Kosovo B power station" RWE Power Case Study, December 2008.
- ↑ Kosova e Re Power Plant Ministry of Economic Development, accessed June 2018
- ↑ SUPPORTING RENEWABLE ENERGY IN KOSOVO USAID, August 7, 2017
- ↑ Kosovo announces auction scheme for solar pv magazine, NOVEMBER 6, 2017
- ↑ Solar’s coming of age in the UK pv magazine, 9 June 2018
- ↑ KOSTT, SOWI sign agreement on grid connection for Selaci wind farm Balkan Green Energy News, May 24, 2018
- ↑ Biomass-Based Heating in the Western Balkans – A Roadmap for Sustainable Development World Bank, October 2017
- ↑ The fight for Kosovo’s vanishing rivers Prishtina Insight, 22 June 2018
- ↑ Kosovo and Albania agree to intensify work on establishing common electricity market Balkan Green Energy News, 6 Oct 2017
- ↑ Secretariat supports development of climate change legislation in Kosovo Energy Community, 7 June 2018
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 Resources
- The Kingdom of Coal: Documentary, BIRN and Crossing Bridges (2011)
- "Background Paper: Development and Evaluation of Power Supply Options for Kosovo," prepared by DHInfrastructure for the World Bank, December 2011
Background information
- "South East Europe Electricity Roadmap - SEERMAP", Regional Centre for Energy Policy Research (REKK), accessed June 2018
- European Environment Agency, European Pollutant Emission Register. (This has a list of power stations and their current emissions).
