Gorazhdec, Peja, October 12, 2022
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, participated in the inauguration of Plant for Treatment of Polluted waters in Gorazhdec, Pejë, the total cost of which reaches the value of 19 million and 800 thousand euros.
In his speech, Prime Minister Kurti expressed his joy that the inauguration of this plant took place today, highlighting that the water sector has an impressive dynamism and that every report, every event proves how much is being done in this sector. He emphasized that the government considers it to be among the priority sectors, since waters are a prerequisite for the lives of citizens and for any development policy.
Next week, the inauguration of the plant in Gjakova is expected to take place, thus covering a large part of the Drin i Bardhë basin that is shared with Albania, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Greece.
Prime Minister Kurti said that it is intended to cover the treatment fo polluted waters for about 75 percent of the total number of population in Kosovo for a period of 10 to 15 years.
At the same time, he thanked the German and Swiss governments for the co-financing of this plant, as well as for the valuable support in the water sector during the last two decades.
The government has fully embraced and supported this project, recognizing its importance in promoting the development of this sector and its significant environmental impact, especially fulfilling an important cross-border obligation, said the prime minister.
As a government, in cooperation with the line ministries for water resources and water services, the prime minister expressed his commitment that it will be invested in the creation of a new generation of professionals in this vital sector for our country.
The construction of this new plant for treatment of polluted waters was made possible by the cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Kosovo, the Municipality of Peja, the Federal Republic of Germany and the Swiss Government through KfW (German Development Bank).
The full speech of Prime Minister Kurti:
The honorable minister of the Ministry of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure, Mr. Liburn Aliu
The honorable mayor of the Municipality of Peja, Mr. Gazmend Muhaxheri,
The honorable Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, Mr. Jörg Rohde
The honorable Ambassador of the Swiss Confederation, Mr. Thomas Kolly
The honorable Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Economy, Mr. Getoar Mjeku,
The honorable director Mr. Tigani,
The honorable staff of the Regional Water Company ‘Hidrodrini’,
Dear all of you present from the German Development Bank KfW as well as from the Swiss Cooperation Office.
I remember how almost a year ago, we were together in Prizren to inaugurate the third plant for treatment of polluted waters in Kosovo, and today we are happy to be together here in Gorazhdec in Peja to inaugurate the fourth plant.
The water sector has an impressive dynamism. Every report, every event proves how much is being done in this sector, which our government considers it to be among the priority sectors, as waters are a prerequisite for the lives of citizens and for any development policy.
We expect to also inaugurate the plant in Gjakova next week. Thus, we cover a large part of the White Drin basin that is shared with Albania, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Greece. We are also in the process of building the regional plant for Pristina, Kastriot, Fushë Kosova, and Graçanica, as well as the regional plant of Mitrovica, Vushtrria and Gjilan. We are in the process of securing funds for the plants in Ferizaj and Podujevë, as well as planning to request support for the feasibility study for treatment of polluted waters in following municipalities; Vushtrria, Malishevo, Drenas, Lipjan, Rahovec, Therandë, Viti, Istog, Deçan, Klinë and Kamenica, i.e. the ten largest municipalities according to the order.
With this, we avoid a discriminatory approach and aim to cover the treatment of polluted waters for about 75 percent of the total number of population in Kosovo for a period of 10 to 15 years.
This has even greater value if we consider that Kosovo has a lack of available water. Only 10 percent of our water is external, meaning it comes from outside the state, and all the other 90 percent is internal water generated by rainfall. Therefore, it is of vital importance that we ensure the protection of water resources. We have both a legal obligation and a goal for European integration, but also maintaining the status of water for internal use, be it for drinking water supply, irrigation, industry or whatever the destination may be.
Therefore, I am very much honored to join you today to inaugurate the plant for treatment of polluted waters in Peja.
I thank the German and Swiss governments for the co-financing of this plant, as well as for the valuable support in the water sector during the last two decades. Also the mayor of the Municipality of Peja, Mr. Muhaxheri, and the staff of the Regional Water Company “Hidrodrini” for their contribution and cooperation to speed up the works.
My government has fully embraced and supported this project recognizing its importance in promoting the development of this sector and its significant environmental impact, especially fulfilling an important cross-border obligation.
In February of this year, we made a decision through the Inter-ministerial Council on Waters for sludge management that will be produced by these plants. We are awaiting plans from the seven RWCs and then we will draft a strategy for this at the country level.
Polluted waters are an often underestimated and overlooked sector. Our relationship with them often ends by emptying the tank, but if managed well through treatment and recycling systems, polluted waters can be reused in industrial processes in agriculture or in natural freshwater systems.
Moving towards a sustainable circular economy requires us to rethink the role and reuse of polluted waters and sludge. This plant and others that are being built are of tremendous importance, especially because of the growing challenges related to the lack of water in Kosovo.
The reuse of polluted waters after they have been treated is essential to reduce water pollution, increase water quality, improve water use efficiency and reduce water losses. The construction of such an infrastructure is a novelty for us, and as was the case in Prizren, we are grateful that our partners have foreseen the support of the “Hidrodrini” Company for the operation of the plant during this initial phase.
We have potential for staff in this new sector for us and we must work to increase them and benefit as much as possible from the German-Swiss experience. As a government, in cooperation with the line ministries for water resources and water services, we pledge to invest in the creation of a new generation of professionals in this vital sector for our country.
Thank you, cheers, and see you at the inauguration of the plant in Gjakova.
Last modified: October 14, 2022