Prishtina, 28 December, 2023
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, together with the Minister of Local Government Administration, Elbert Krasniqi and the Minister of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure Liburn Aliu, as well as the Chief Executive of KRU ‘Prishtina’, Arsim Fetahu, participated in the inauguration of the start of works for the “Regulation of the water supply network in the Municipality of Fushë Kosova in the district 28 – 29 and the villages of Bardhë i Madh and the village of Sllatinë e Madhe”, in the amount of 2.8 million euros, which will bring drinking water to about 10 thousand inhabitants.
On this occasion, the Prime Minister expressed the commitment and commitment of the Government to support the municipality. “As the Government, we have not promised miracles, but we have promised correctness and responsibility. The government is keeping its word, today we will lay the foundation stone of the project worth 2.8 million euros that will bring drinking water to about 10,000 residents of this area. So we have two neighborhoods in Fushë Kosovë 28 and 29 and also the villages of Bardhë i Madh and Sllatinë e Madhe”.
Also, he added that in our Energy strategy we have planned to invest not only in the modernization of the “Kosova B” Thermal Power Plant, but also in the deep rehabilitation of the two “Kosova A” units, whose lifespan will be grows for 25 years. For the first one, i.e. for the modernization of the units of the “Kosova B” Thermal Power Plant, we signed the contract in the spring of this year, while for the second one, the tender will be announced at the beginning of the coming year 2024. So, for the deep rehabilitation of the units of “Kosovo A”.
“But what is most important for KEK is the renewal of the workforce. KEK needs new workers and this is the reason why 126 new workers have been hired at KEK in recent months, including 23 women, and currently the competition has been opened for 130 machine technicians”, he said, with congratulations for them and with the hope that the coming year will be a prosperous and successful year for all of you and for each family and members of your family.
He also added that the Government of the Republic of Kosovo supports the municipality of Fushë Kosova to build new schools, as soon as the municipality finds the plot where we can build the new building.
The Minister of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure, Liburn Aliu emphasized that together we have promised that the regulation of drinking water will be a priority and that the cooperation with the Minister Elbert Krasniqi is working together in its realization.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Local Government Administration, Elbert Krasniqi, called this event a very good moment to meet with citizens and at the same time to start work on a project that the citizens themselves have requested from the government and the government is made sure to start it today. He said that they will be committed to the maximum to supervise the works, to have fast works and to quickly come to the end of the project.
Prime Minister Kurti’s complete speech:
Dear residents,
Dear citizens,
Dear ministers and colleagues from the Government, members of the Assembly and other state officials,
The village of Bardhë i Madh is a village with 4,000 inhabitants, among the largest settlements in our Republic. Known for the surface coal mine, but also for the many sports clubs that have made it famous at the country level.
But, Bardhi is known for the working population, for its honest people who have contributed a lot, but have received little. Therefore, even in our meetings with the residents here in the past, the request was for drinking water and a place to work.
The wells of this mining village, as well as the agricultural land, are exhausted and have shrunk over the years from coal mining. 1580 hectares were acquired during the 70s of the last century, but the residents did not enjoy equal employment opportunities in the KEK enterprise that provides light to all of Kosovo.
We, as the Government, have not promised miracles, but we have promised correctness and responsibility. The government is keeping its word, today we will lay the foundation stone of the project worth 2.8 million euros that will bring drinking water to about 10,000 residents of this area. So, we have two neighborhoods in Fushë Kosovë 28 and 29 and also the villages of Bardhë i Madh and Sllatinë e Madhe.
We cannot gather in Bardhë i Madh and not talk about KEK. As you know, in our Energy strategy we have planned to invest not only in the modernization of the “Kosova B” Thermal Power Plant, but also in the deep rehabilitation of the two “Kosova A” units, whose lifespan will be increased by 25 years.
For the first one, i.e. for the modernization of the units of the “Kosova B” Thermal Power Plant, we signed the contract in the spring of this year, while for the second one, the tender will be announced at the beginning of the coming year 2024. So, for the deep rehabilitation of the units of “Kosovo A”.
On the other hand, expropriations have also been completed and preparations are being made for the construction of the solar park in KEK with a capacity of 100 megawatts. So, what I want to say is that KEK will continue to be an engine of economic development in Kosovo, but especially closely related to what is traditional, i.e. the enterprise and residence of the Great Bardhi and not only that.
Meanwhile, KEK is also taking care of the workers, for example by providing health insurance, transportation and increasing the daily wage to 5 euros, distributing coal to over 3 thousand workers, year and year. And since yesterday, with the salary increase of 70 euros gross for each worker and the distribution of the bonus of 300 euros for workers for the year we are leaving behind.
But what is most important for KEK is the renewal of the workforce. KEK needs new workers and this is the reason why 126 new workers have been hired at KEK in the last few months, including 23 women, and currently the competition has been opened for 130 machine technicians.
Caring for workers will continue to be a priority of KEK, and KEK will be a priority for our Government. In order to develop KEK even further, we count on the support and support of each one of you.
The government has allocated to the municipality of Fushë-Kosova, dear residents of Bardhi Madh, also the means for the nursery, which has already started to be built. Meanwhile, a one-time payment of 100 euros was executed yesterday for over 388,000 children and over 287,000 pensioners. We have also expressed our commitment to education with 156 rates to increase the number of teachers in the municipality of Fushë-Kosova.
The Government of the Republic of Kosovo supports the municipality to build new schools as soon as the municipality finds the plot where we can build the new building. So, they find the plot, we help to build schools for your teachers and children, current or future students.
The economic development of the country also brings the prosperity of the citizens, therefore our investments will continue. The work must be done quickly, without wasting time, because the needs are great and the commitment must be increased.
I know that all the citizens of this area are getting joy in the New Year through this long-awaited project. So, congratulations to everyone, with the hope that the coming year will be a prosperous and successful year for all of you and for each family and members of your family.
Thank you and congratulations!
Last modified: December 29, 2023