Germany suspends cooperation on energy projects with Kosovo*

Germany has decided to temporarily suspend cooperation with Kosovo* in various sectors due to Prishtina’s lack of action in calming the situation in the north. The suspension of cooperation also affects two energy sector projects.

The German embassy in Prishtina confirmed to Radio Slobodna Evropa that the decision to halt cooperation in various sectors was made in line with the policy of the European Union (EU), which had previously imposed measures against Kosovo*.

The embassy emphasized that the German measures will not affect projects with the civil society sector, nor projects that are already ongoing. The measures also include the postponement of the bilateral climate partnership, according to the German embassy.

Two major energy projects have been suspended

According to Kosovar media outlet zira.info, two major projects in the energy sector have been suspended.

District heating company Termokos from Prishtina had planned to build a solar power plant in the nearby town of Obiliq (Obilić), on 25 hectares of land. The plan was to connect the facility to the district heating system by 2027.

The project consists of a solar-thermal system with collectors on a total of 6.9 hectares and a photovoltaic power plant to be installed by the government-owned Kosovo Energy Corporation (KEK). The solar collectors would be used to heat water in an underground reservoir with a capacity of 410,000 cubic meters. Germany was supposed to provide EUR 60.6 million for the project.

In addition, another long-term project awaiting further developments is an investment worth EUR 110 million. The project involves the construction of solar energy capacities at the KEK landfill, which has also been suspended.

A 100 MW solar power plant should be built on the site of the existing ash landfill for the lignite-fired Kosovo A power plant.

The decision by🇩🇪to halt its energy and climate partnership with🇽🇰worries me. Since there is no on/off switch for the #climatecrisis, it is critical to understand its urgency and cooperate to properly address it. @BGFBalkans @Germanwatch @BalkanGreEnNews @GermanAmbKOS @Artane_R

— Milot Morina (@_MilotMorina) July 6, 2023

Projects will be resumed once situation calms

The EU has taken measures against Kosovo* as the government in Prishtina ignored the demands for calming the situation in the north.

The EU, supported by other Western countries as well, has three demands for Kosovo* – to urgently de-escalate the situation in the north, hold new elections, and resume the dialogue on the normalization of relations.

The affected projects will be resumed as soon as “urgent measures for de-escalation” are taken

The German embassy in Prishtina noted in the statement that the projects currently affected by these measures will be able to resume once “urgent measures for de-escalation” are taken.