UNMIK/PR/799
SRSG Michael Steiner today announced that mismanagement and improper housekeeping contributed to the damage caused by a major fire sparked by a lightning strike to Kosovo’s main power plant on July 19.
The SRSG also announced that he would appoint a top manager from the German electrical industry as managing director of the Kosovo Electric Company (KEK) until next spring.
“Thereafter the leadership of KEK will be returned to a suitable Kosovo managing director,” he said at a press briefing today which followed the third meeting of the Energy Committee, formed in the wake of the power plant fire.
SRSG Michael Steiner said UNMIK Police today submitted the second part of its report on the fire to an investigating judge. The report confirmed lightning as the cause of the fire and ruled out arson, sabotage and deliberate criminal action.
But both police and the Kosovo fire brigade concluded that safety rules and measures had not been respected at the plant. “Urgent recommendations on safety had been given to KEK well before the fire happened,” said the SRSG. “These had not been implemented.”
The plant had insufficient fire hydrants. Cleaning, especially of coal dust, was inadequate, and there was minimal regard for proper safety precautions, he said.
The police report concluded that “There is strong likelihood that if the proper preventative measures that had already been recommended would have been in place, the extent of the damage would have been less.”
Mr. Steiner, however, praised the work of KEK acting managing director Ali Hamiti during the crisis, saying Mr. Hamiti “fully understands the need for this emergency measure.”
The SRSG reported on prospects for repair of the plant, known as Kosovo B. An emergency contract has been agreed upon with the plant’s original manufacturer (Alstrom). Work is to start immediately and the plant’s ‘Block B2’ could be operational by early December. The more severely damaged B1 is not expected to be on line until June 2003.
Estimates on repairs to the plant run from 8 to 10 million euros, with an additional 750,000 euros required to replace the auxiliary transformer hit by lightning.
Kosovo’s second, aging plant (‘A’) is being refurbished with the help of KfW – (Kreditanstalt fuer Wiederaufbau), the German lending agency for reconstruction, for a total cost of 9.5 million euro.
The German government has already contributed 5 million euro and DANIDA, the Government of Denmark’s aid program—1 million euro.
SRSG Michael Steiner reiterated his call for the provisional Government of Kosovo to undertake an energy saving campaign among the public.
UNMIK and KFOR will offer technical support, “but the initiative must come from the Government.” The Government representative will present the strategy at the next Energy Committee meeting, scheduled for 4 September.
