Prishtina, January 24, 2025
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, together with the Minister of Economy, Artane Rizvanolli, participated in the Conference for the presentation of the announcement of the procurement activity (phase I Pre-qualification) of the capital project “Rehabilitation and Modernization of Unit A3” of the Kosovo A Power Plant, an investment worth 137 million euros.
This project aims to improve the energy production capacities and increase the efficiency of this unit, contributing to strengthening the security and sustainable development of the energy sector in Kosovo.
In his opening speech, Prime Minister Kurti said that he was happy to be present at this important event for KEK, which will be remembered for a long time.
“KEK will today rehabilitate the A3 unit like never before, paying every cent of the profit achieved in less than 4 years of our Government and new corporate leadership. At over 137 million euros, this project is the largest investment in KEK’s generating capacities since the construction of our power plants, 4 decades ago. Meanwhile, KEK is being renewed with new staff, with a special focus on production. Over the past three years, 745 new employees, including 48 women, have been hired at KEK and will ensure that KEK continues to operate,” said the Prime Minister.
He listed the multiple benefits of this capital investment, the largest ever in KEK’s generating capacities since the construction of the power plants. The rehabilitation and modernization that will extend the life of the A3 unit for 20 years will increase its capacity from about 120–140 MW to 215 MW, increase operating hours from about 5,400 hours per year to 7,700 hours per year, double annual production from about 700 thousand MWh hours to 1.5 million MWh, and improve environmental efficiency because the rehabilitated A3 will use almost 30% less coal and, with modern technology and standards, will reduce by over 50% the emissions of dust, nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide that it emits during production.
In addition to this project, the Prime Minister emphasized that the country is taking great strides in the energy transition.
“KEK itself is building the solar park with a capacity of 100 megawatts, through the financing that we have provided as the Government. The Ministry of Economy is holding the second auction for renewable energy, again 100 MW this time from wind. Meanwhile, global companies have been invited to compete for the design and construction of the energy storage system through accumulator batteries, which are being built with a grant of 202 million dollars from the United States and co-financing with our government, an additional 34.7 million”, he said.
He added that these major projects are the product of our courage to govern correctly, following a clear vision for our future, establishing our policies on in-depth studies and good practices, and always protecting public property and the general interest.
At the end of his speech, the Prime Minister thanked the employees, management and board of KEK, the team of the Ministry of Economy, USAID for technical support and everyone who has contributed to starting this project.
The Minister of Economy, Artane Rizvanolli, said that the launch of this project is the source of a clear work and policy, which prioritizes domestic energy sources for security of supply and which is sealed with the experience we had during the crisis of 2021-2022, the global crisis, which also affected Kosovo, but whose effects we still feel today in world markets.
Full speech of Prime Minister Kurti
Honorable Minister of Economy, Ms. Artane Rizvanolli,
Honorable Deputy Ministers, Getoar Mjeku and Shemsi Syla,
Honorable Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Kosovo Energy Corporation, Mr. Valdrin Krasniqi and other members of the board,
Honorable CEO of KEK, Mr. Bekir Gërguri,
Dear representatives of USAID, institutions and enterprises of the country, officials and employees of KEK
Representatives of the media,
Ladies and gentlemen,
I am happy to be present at this very important event for KEK, which will be remembered for a long time.
We will remember that today was a January day with relatively mild weather — and the weather is not just a free conversation, but important information when we produce energy and bring heating in the winter.
I doubt if we will remember that it was Friday, that although most people end the working day and start the weekend, the power plant does not stop. Since it started operating in 1970, unit A3 has not stopped production, except for repairs and necessary care for the production capacity.
Today we mark the beginning of an extraordinary care project for the Kosovo A power plant, the rehabilitation and modernization of block A3, and the redefinition of KEK’s purpose for the future that awaits us.
The Republic of Kosovo has adopted an ambitious strategy, which rounds out the triangle of challenges that need to be balanced or the modern trilemma of the energy sector: In one corner we have security of supply. In another we have affordability of costs. And in the third we have pollution reduction and clean energy.
The A3 rehabilitation and modernization project serves this strategy, by emphasizing each corner of the energy trilemma.
This investment aims to increase the production capacity and improve the environmental efficiency of the A3 unit, which currently produces a significant part of the electricity in our Republic.
The benefits will be multiple:
We are extending the life of the A3 unit, for 20 years or 150,000 hours of operation, on top of the 260,000 hours of production that A3 has recorded since it started operating over half a century ago.
We are increasing the capacity, which is currently around 120–140 megawatts. After rehabilitation and modernization, we aim for the capacity of A3 to reach 215 megawatts.
We are increasing the time availability, increasing the operating hours. A3 is currently on standby for around 5,400 hours per year. Rehabilitation and modernization will enable it to operate for 7,700 hours per year, thus significantly increasing the energy supply.
We are doubling the annual production. A3 currently produces around 700,000 megawatt hours. After rehabilitation and modernization, it will reach 1,500,000 megawatt hours. We are improving environmental efficiency. To produce one megawatt hour of energy, A3 currently consumes around 1.5–1.6 tons of coal. After rehabilitation, 1.15 tons of coal will be needed. For the same energy produced, the rehabilitated A3 will use almost 30 percent less coal. And with modern technology and standards, it will actually reduce many times (by 55–66 percent) the emissions of dust, nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide that it emits during production.
Thus, our environment is better protected and our energy security is greater, at a time when our Republic is taking great steps in the energy transition.
KEK itself is building a solar park with a capacity of 100 megawatts, through the financing that we have provided as the Government. The Ministry of Economy is holding the second auction for renewable energy, again 100 megawatts, this time from wind. Meanwhile, global companies have been invited to compete for the design and construction of the energy storage system through accumulator batteries, which are being built with a grant of 202 million dollars from the United States and co-financing with our government, an additional 34.7 million.
These major projects are the product of our courage to govern correctly, following a clear vision for our future, establishing our policies on in-depth studies and good practices, and always protecting public property and the general interest.
And the A3 project, in particular, is the product of our proper strategy for the energy sector and the clean and effective governance of the Energy Corporation.
KEK will rehabilitate the A3 unit today like never before, paying every cent of the profit achieved in less than 4 years of our Governance and the new corporate leadership. At over 137 million euros, this project is the largest investment in KEK’s generating capacity since the construction of our power plants four decades ago. Meanwhile, KEK is being renewed with new staff, with a special focus on production. Over the past three years, 745 new employees, including 48 women, have been hired by KEK and will ensure that KEK continues to operate.
I repeat once again the words that I said a long time ago on an occasion with KEK workers: “KEK is a natural asset, KEK is a production capacity, and KEK is an organization of workers.” And all three of these together can take us far, far ahead.
Today’s project is a big step. But even bigger is the future, for which KEK and Kosovo are well prepared.
I thank the employees, management and board of KEK, the team of the Ministry of Economy, USAID for technical support and everyone who contributed to getting this project started.
Congratulations to everyone!
Last modified: January 27, 2025