UNMIK/PR/1593
PRISTINA – Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Kosovo (SRSG) Joachim Rücker today spoke at the International Investors’ Conference in Pristina. The conference, organised by the Ministry of Energy and Mining, aims at attracting major investors for the energy sector to ensure an effective exploitation of Kosovo’s lignite resources and the construction of a major new generation facility to service both domestic and international markets.
In his opening remarks, SRSG Rücker said: “Kosovo sits on 45 percent of Europe’s lignite deposits and is therefore extremely well placed to be a significant electricity producer for an increasingly energy hungry region.
“In Kosovo, energy is a key sector with high growth and job potential. We also need increased security of the power supply. And we all know that Kosovo can be a least-cost producer with reasonable technology, with clean coal technology.”
The conference was attended by investors from Europe and abroad, including representatives of companies from the Czech Republic, Germany, Sweden and the United States. Officials from the international community and local institutions were also present for the opening of the conference.
The conference introduced its guests to the details of three major projects in the energy sector: the development of Kosovo’s lignite mining, the refurbishment of existing power plant “Kosovo A” and the construction of a new power plant dubbed “Kosovo C”. An Expression of Interest for these projects, which is currently open, will end on 31 October.
The involvement of private investment in Kosovo’s energy sector is supported by UNMIK, as well as by the World Bank, the European Agency for Reconstruction and USAID, who were also present at the conference.
For full text of the SRSG’s speech please visit UNMIK Online.