- Title: Kosovo fears tough winter after two weeks of power cuts
- Date: 2nd September 2022
- Summary: OBILIC, KOSOVO (AUGUST 21, 2022) (REUTERS) (MUTE) VARIOUS DRONE SHOTS OF POWER PLANT VARIOUS OF BLACK SMOKE RISING FROM CHIMNEYS OF POWER PLANT (MUTE) DRONE SHOT OF FIELD WITH HORSES NEXT TO POWER PLANT VARIOUS OF HORSES EATING GRASS SMOKE RISING FROM CHIMNEYS PRISTINA, KOSOVO (SEPTEMBER 2, 2022) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF ENERGY EXPERT LIRON GJOCAJ WALKING (SOUNDBITE) (Albanian) ENERGY EXPERT FROM INDEP THINK TANK, LIRON GJOCAJ, SAYING: "Can you imagine we have these problems in summer months when we don’t use electricity for heating? We can then imagine what will happen during the winter time when the crisis will get worse. Prices will go higher and there will be a lack of electricity because it is a global crisis." VUSHTRRI, KOSOVO (SEPTEMBER 1, 2022) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF HAIRDRESSER NEHAT SADIKU STARTING FUEL-POWERED ENERGY GENERATOR VARIOUS OF SADIKU CUTTING CLIENT'S HAIR (SOUNDBITE) (Albanian) HAIRDRESSER, NEHAT SADIKU, SAYING: "It is very difficult to work. They have sent us back to medieval times. This is unbearable. Businesses can not work with generators." PRISTINA, KOSOVO (AUGUST 31, 2022) (REUTERS) (NIGHT SHOTS) VARIOUS OF APARTMENTS AND STREETS IN PRISTINA WITHOUT ELECTRICITY VARIOUS OF WORKERS IN FAST-FOOD SHOP WORKING WITH CANDLES WAITER TAKING ORDER CANDLES NEAR PLATES CANDLE IN PLASTIC BOTTLE ON TABLE (SOUNDBITE) (Albanian) OWNER OF FAST-FOOD SHOP, ERMIR MATI, SAYING: "It is expensive and difficult to work (without electricity). When electricity is on, it breaks our machines because the power input is stronger than usual. It already broke our electric grill. So, everything is more difficult." VAROUS OF MAN FIXING GENERATOR VARIOUS OF GENERATOR NEXT TO WINDOW DISPLAY (SOUNDBITE) (Albanian) PRISTINA RESIDENT, SADIJE ADEMI, SAYING: "My work is harder now because I am falling behind. For two hours when there is power cut, I usually do nothing." (SOUNDBITE) (Albanian) PRISTINA RESIDENT, BESIM SHALA, SAYING: "Kosovo should do something more. At least they must contract and secure electricity (from imports) for a cheaper price." VARIOUS OF PRISTINA STREETS WITHOUT ELECTRICITY MOMENT WHEN ELECTRICITY SWITCHES ON AFTER THREE HOUR POWER OUTAGE
- Embargoed: 16th September 2022 11:33
- Keywords: Balkan countries Kosovo energy Pristina energy energy crisis low production power cuts power plant
- Location: PRISTINA, OBILIC AND VUSHTRRI, KOSOVO
- City: PRISTINA, OBILIC AND VUSHTRRI, KOSOVO
- Country: Kosovo
- Topics: Commodities Markets,Europe,Economic Events
- Reuters ID: LVA001233402092022RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Kosovo announced it was restoring consistent power supplies on Friday (September 2) after two weeks of restrictions highlighted the risk of a difficult winter in a country that is particularly vulnerable to Europe's energy crisis.
Kosovars faced up to six hours without electricity at various intervals during the day and some among the population of almost two million fear the cuts will not be the last.
"What will happen during the wintertime when the crisis will get worse?" said Liron Gjocaj, an energy expert from Pristina based think-tank Indep.
About 90% of the Balkan state's electricity is generated from coal and, together with renewables, it can produce around 900 MWh/h. Kosovo needs up to 1,400 MWh/h in the evening hours during winter, when people use electricity for heating.
The power utility KEK said power cuts had ended on Friday as repairs to two coal-fired facilities had been completed.
Kosovo became the first country in Europe to restrict power supplies last month as the continent struggled with soaring prices of gas after Russia cut its exports blaming technical difficulties and sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine. Western nations have accused Moscow of blackmail.
In early August, Kosovo's parliament declared a 60-day energy state of emergency to enable the government take steps to cope with the crisis, including power cuts.
The government has allocated some funds to buy electricity but chose power rationing rather than buying in the open market, where prices this week were around 600 euros per megawatt, 10 times higher than in early 2020.
(Production: Fatos Bytyci, Hedy Beloucif) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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