UNMIK/PR/783
PRISTINA – Immediately following the second meeting of the Energy Committee, SRSG Michael Steiner announced the results from the preliminary police investigation and damage assessment into Friday’s lightning strike on Kosovo’s B power plant.
“I told you on Sunday I would come back to you with preliminary information on three crucial points. Today the Energy Committee received reports from UNMIK Police’s Serious Crime Squad and from the head of the EU Pillar Andy Bearpark and the Chairman of the Board of KEK.”
“First, the preliminary police report concludes that there was no sabotage or deliberate criminal behaviour and that the real cause of the fire was a natural catastrophe,” said SRSG Michael Steiner. “An extraordinary, powerful set of lightning strikes attacked a transformer and sent a huge surge of electricity into the building, causing fires to start simultaneously at several locations.”
SRSG Michael Steiner said that although the same transformer had been hit previously by lightning (180 times by its own counter), it had never been struck by a lightning bolt of such intensity. “Friday’s strike was estimated at more than 20 million watts of energy.”
“I told you I would come back to you in three days and I have done so,” continued SRSG Michael Steiner. “We have established what needed to be established quickly. But you cannot do everything in three days. Whether there was negligence cannot be determined so quickly and so the investigation is continuing.”
“The situation in plant B is very complex. The plant is huge, specialized equipment is needed to examine it. Parts are still inaccessible due to flooding and chemicals.”
“But let me make one thing crystal clear,” reiterated SRSG Michael Steiner. “UNMIK Police confirmed that the cause was not criminal, but natural. No arson, no sabotage.”
Referring to Kosovo B as “not a Mercedes” but a “repaired Zastava that is running and old, ” SRSG Michael Steiner also reported on the expected damages to the plant. “The Prime Minister has just given the raw estimate of costs. This is only a broad estimate, but it could be anywhere between 15 and 50 million euros.”
“The initial finding is that we may, I say may, get B2 running by the end of the year. B1 will certainly not be ready for the winter. Technical experts are working now and it will take two weeks to complete their assessment. But we will need alternatives and that takes me into the third part, measures to respond.”
“We are working on an accelerated program to bring more A units into operation. But on top of that we will need other sources of energy. Bottled gas and coal will in some cases have to replace electricity for heating. Imports will clearly be necessary so two things are now absolutely clear: we must all use less electricity and we must all pay for the electricity we use. We from the International Community – KFOR and UNMIK – will do our part. So far KFOR is 80% on their own generated capacity and plan to be 98% independent by September. UNMIK will do the same thing during seven peak hours of each day.”
“Prime Minister Rexhepi has agreed to prepare and lead a comprehensive energy saving campaign. This will tell you what you need to do. We will announce all programs as they are prepared. I promise you full and continued transparency.”
SRSG Michael Steiner concluded by saying that the Energy Committee would meet again on 7 August in order to continue to review the situation, receive detailed damage assessments on Plant B and confirm the program of work for Plant A.
Responding to questions following the press conference, SRSG Michael Steiner reiterated that the issue of fraud at KEK and the damage caused by Friday’s storm were completely unrelated. “There is simply no link between the two.”
