Arifi: Kosovo faces a difficult winter, possible energy and financial crisis

Alliance Secretary-General Avni Arifi expressed concern over the state of Kosovo’s energy sector, warning that citizens face a difficult winter and that there is a risk of an energy and financial crisis, Kosovo Press reports.

Arifi criticized the management of the energy sector, particularly the delay in the overhaul of Unit B1 at the Kosovo B Thermal Power Plant, which he claims was not prepared in time to return to operation.

He believes that the delays could continue for another three to four months, stressing that Kosovo is already facing a shortfall of around 370 megawatts in generation capacity.

Regarding the cost of electricity imports, Arifi said that the value of electricity purchased by November 5 had reached €205 million.

He warned that if the current trend of imports and rising prices on international power exchanges continued, costs could reach €400 million by December 31. He criticized the authorities for failing, in his view, to prepare for the winter season in a timely manner.

“They have done nothing, and do you know what is happening? They do not care because there is money in the budget. The value of the electricity they purchased by November 5 amounts to €205 million. If the current trend continues from November 5 through December 31, with prices on the exchange rising—and I do not believe we will continue to have weather like this until December 31—we risk spending €400 million on electricity imports this year,” Arifi said.

Arifi also warned of a possible increase in electricity prices.

“Prices were not increased this year because of the June 7 elections. We are talking about a €40 million liability that they carried over into next year, to be recovered through a price increase. That is inevitable, although I do not know what the tariff will be,” he said.

According to Arifi, there should have been political accountability for these problems, and Economy Minister Artane Rizvanolli should have been dismissed much earlier.

He also addressed the amendments to the Law on the Specialist Chambers, saying that the Alliance supported the amendments but that they had to be consistent with the independence of the judiciary.

“Neither Kosovo nor the Alliance seeks to undermine the independence of the judicial system, whether in Kosovo or in The Hague,” Arifi concluded.