Pristina, 18 August 2023
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, participated today in the launch of a public call for the support of household consumers, in investing in efficient household appliances and solar systems for heating sanitary water, organized by the Ministry of Economy.
Given that the energy sector is crucial for our government, Prime Minister Kurti reiterated to those present that the focus is not only on increasing production capacity, but also on increasing energy efficiency.
Thus, this has also preceded the launch of the third consecutive measure which is the subsidizing of household appliances for families with a focus on supporting citizens in support of social assistance and self-sustaining parents.
“In April of this year, the initiative for investment in Energy Efficiency for social housing buildings has been launched, implemented by the Kosovo Fund for Energy Efficiency. A week ago, the second call of the Fund for subsidizing citizens for their investments in energy efficiency for their homes was launched. This call is still open and aims to support around 2,000 families”, said Prime Minister Kurti.
He added that the realization of these initiatives was made possible also thanks to the support of our friends and partners, who have allocated 75 million euros for the Republic of Kosovo to cope with the consequences of the European energy crisis.
In the context of the country’s first scheme for subsidizing efficient equipment for families, more than 9,000 families have been supported, subsidizing the purchase of efficient appliances for heating during the winter months. Over 120 million euros have been allocated for direct subsidy of electric energy bills for 208 thousand saving families, and simultaneously the new tariffs for each family and business in the country starting from February 2022. Also, with around 9 million euros, we have renovated and made efficient 70 public buildings: schools, children’s nurseries, health centers and fire stations.
“This scheme that we are launching today, will not be the last one. With this today, and what we will present in the following weeks, we will support another 20 thousand families, and will further increase the efficiency of energy in our country”, said Prime Minister Kurti.
Below, the full speech Prime Minister Kurti:
Dear Minister Rizvanolli,
Dear MP Galushi,
Dear Mr. Biancardi, Representative of the EU Office,
Dear media, dear citizens,
Ladies and gentleman,
We have demonstrated that the energy sector is crucial for our government by initiating and winning some of the largest and most innovative projects we have had in our country. This undoubtedly includes the first competitive scheme for the construction of production capacities, the construction of energy accumulation capacities, central solar heating, and investment in the rehabilitation of our existing capacities, among other.
In our country, the energy intensity is about three times higher than in comparison to the member states of the European Union. This implies that to produce a unit of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), we spend three times more energy. This number needs to be significantly reduced.
Therefore, our focus is not only on increasing production capacities. At the same time, we are also working on increasing energy efficiency. And this is not just a reduction in consumption. Energy efficiency not only results in reducing financial costs for families and our economy, energy efficiency, it also impacts the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the decrease in electricity imports. So: a healthier environment for everyone, and savings in the state budget, which belongs to everyone.
We share this goal with our friends and partners who have allocated 75 million euros for the Republic of Kosovo to cope with the consequences of the European energy crisis. This package has the highest value per capita in the region. During her last visit in October of the previous year, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced this support, and thanks to this support, we have started to realize our common goals this year.
Since then, April this year, the initiative for investment in Energy Efficiency for social housing buildings has been launched, which is implemented by the Kosovo Fund for Energy Efficiency. A week ago, the second call of the Fund for subsidizing citizens for their investments in energy efficiency for their homes was launched. This call is still open and aims to support around 2,000 families.
Meanwhile, today we are launching the third consecutive measure – subsidizing household appliances for families with a focus on supporting citizens in support of social assistance and self-sustaining parents.
These measures come as a continuation of the work we have done as a Government to increase investments in energy efficiency, alongside the work we have done to set ambitious goals in our Energy Strategy.
Last year, the Ministry of Economy successfully established the first scheme of public institutions for subsidizing efficient appliances for families in the country. Through our measures, we have supported over 9,000 families by subsidizing the purchase of efficient heating appliances during winter months. Thus, we have specifically supported the beneficiaries of social assistance, and for the first time in our country, we have provided special support to self-supporting mothers. The subsidy scheme for efficient devices has been so successful that we have managed to triple the budget for this year.
Furthermore, in order to encourage energy saving and to mitigate the impact of the rise in the price of electricity, with over 120 million euros allocated, we have directly subsidized the electricity bills for 208 thousand saving families and concurrently subsidized the new rates for every family and business in the country since February 2022.
With around 9 million euros, we have renovated and made efficient 70 public buildings: schools, children’s nurseries, health centers and fire stations. Thus increasing their comfort and reducing power consumption.
This scheme that we are launching today, will not be the last one. With this today, and what we will present in the following weeks, we will support another 20 thousand families, and will further increase the efficiency of energy in our country.
I am thankful to the Ministry of Economy and Minister Rizvanolli for methodically shaping our energy security.
Thank you.
Last modified: August 21, 2023