Last week, the Kosovan Minister of Economy, Artane Rizvanolli together with Prime Minister Albin Kurti, the Minister of Finance, Labor and Transfers, Hekuran Murati and the Minister of Local Government Administration, Elbert Krasniqi, held a coordination meeting with the Mayors of Kosovo.
Ms Rizvanolli said that the Kosovan government has allocated around 95 million euros to tackle the ongoing energy crisis, including 78 million euros for an energy price cap for all households and businesses in Kosovo. The 95-million-euro package also consists of energy efficiency projects, worth 4.5 million euros, which have now been implemented.
Minister Rizvanolli highlighted that in 2022, Kosovo decreased its energy consumption by 8 per cent, compared to the previous year. The Minister urged the local institutions to continue to be “as rational as possible” in the consumption of electricity, as saving is one of the main steps in dealing with the energy crisis.
In addition, Minister Rizvanolli discussed an ongoing feasibility study for central heating in eight municipalities, expected to be completed later this year. Once the study is completed, work on a major heating project is expected to begin. The minister asked the mayors to start working on easing the procedures, in order for investments in these projects to start as soon as possible.
The Energy Minister also thanked the municipalities, which have appointed the responsible officers to assist the residents in applying for subsidies for the purchase of efficient energy equipment. This support programme, as stated in a press release by the Kosovan Ministry of Economy, currently has 8,700 beneficiaries throughout Kosovo, who have been equipped with energy-efficient equipment, reducing their electricity costs to 70 per cent, 851 of whom are beneficiary citizens of social assistance.