Pristina, December 24, 2022
The full speech of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, at the joint conference with the Minister of Economy, Artane Rizvanolli:
Dear media representatives,
Dear citizens,
Today we are here together with the Minister of Economy, Mrs. Artane Rizvanolli, at the end of a challenging but successful year for the energy sector in Kosovo.
During the year 2022, that is, until today, we have allocated over 85 million euros from the budget of the Republic of Kosovo, to eliminate the obstacles and difficulties faced by our citizens and businesses in the face of this great crisis.
By subsidizing energy bills for everyone, since February of this year, we have made it possible to:
– to avoid the increase in the price of energy for families that consume 800 kWh;
– significantly reduce the increase in energy prices for households that consume more than 800 kWh; and
– to avoid the increase in the price of energy for families that consume 800 kWh, all businesses, municipalities and public institutions. Thus helping businesses in a period of recovery after the pandemic, enabling energy prices several times cheaper than other businesses in other countries of the region.
To know how much you have been subsidized for each month from February to November 2022, you can find these as data on the KESCO website.
With the additional energy saving subsidy from September, only for households that reduce their energy consumption:
We helped over 161 thousand families in September and over 202 thousand families in October. So, the number of those who save has increased in addition to the increase in saving.
And to know how much you have been subsidized for the months of September and October, you can see it on the web application of the supplier KESCO, but also on your bills.
We have made a reward for those who save, and the reward has the value of twice the savings, so we have countless cases of reduced bills.
With the subsidy of efficient heating equipment, we have opened the scheme to all citizens, but with special care for social assistance beneficiaries and self-supporting mothers.
We have helped 7,400 families by financing 40-90% of the value of the equipment, enabling them to keep their homes warmer, spending up to 60-80% less electricity, which also helps them benefit from the savings subsidy.
With these measures, we have balanced the need to protect citizens from rising energy prices with the need to increase efficiency and reduce energy consumption, and always being in line with the long-term strategy for the energy sector. In regional and European forums, our measures – as well as the cost-saving tariff structure – have been used as a good example of crisis management.
As a result of these measures and the cooperation of citizens, we have managed to reduce the consumption of electricity by over 8% compared to last year. In particular, we have a decrease in household consumption, even by 15% in November, compared to November 2021. This decrease is particularly noteworthy as it comes after a 5-year period of annual growth of over 10% in previous years. So, year after year we have had an increase of over 10 percent, while this time we have an 8 percent saving in electricity compared to last year, in which case especially households with 15 percent in November. Already, this saving has saved us tens of millions of euros from the citizens of the state budget, and has contributed to having a regular supply of electricity despite the crisis. Therefore, I want to thank all citizens for the high awareness shown in the face of this crisis.
While we note our common achievements, together with you citizens of the Republic of Kosovo, we must emphasize that the well-managed situation so far should not give us the feeling of comfort. Already this month, we have seen prices above 500 euros for one MWh, which is more than 8 times what you citizens pay in your bills.
The following months, especially January and February, will be the most critical period, when temperatures drop and prices in European markets rise even more.
Therefore, dear citizens, each and every one of you, I ask you to continue and intensify energy saving in the coming months. As for the municipalities and businesses where we have unfortunately not seen such a level of savings, we ask them to increase their efforts in this direction. Otherwise, the subsidy from the state budget – with taxpayers’ money – for municipal businesses will not be possible in the future.
Dear citizens,
We as the Government will continue to do everything we can to soften the impact of the crisis and make it easier for you to deal with it. We are together in this confrontation, so from here I appeal and encourage you to continue saving electricity. Thank you! Now, I am passing the floor to Minister Rizvanolli.
Last modified: December 28, 2022