The Kosovo Energy Corporation has responded to criticism and comparisons concerning the agreement to sell coal to North Macedonia, clarifying that this contract and electricity imports are two separate processes.
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The agreement is a three-year deal signed with North Macedonia’s power utility, JSC ESM, with a value that could reach €73.2 million.
KEK has emphasized that it is not the institution that determines the timing or volume of electricity imported to supply consumers.
“KEK is not the company that decides when and how much electricity is imported to supply consumers. For this reason, comparing the contract’s value of up to €73.2 million with expenditure on electricity imports does not constitute an analysis of the profitability of this agreement,” the Corporation said in its response.
According to KEK, its main activities are coal extraction and electricity generation, while supplying consumers is the responsibility of the company licensed for this function.
The Corporation said that electricity for universal supply is provided at a price of around €29.5 per megawatt-hour. To produce one megawatt-hour, the Kosovo A power plant uses approximately 1.5 tons of coal, while Kosovo B uses around 1.3 tons.
However, KEK underscored that this price cannot be directly compared with the market price of electricity or with the value of coal sales.
The new contract stipulates that ESM will buy the coal at €24.4 per ton, excluding VAT, and that this price will remain unchanged for 36 months.
KEK recalled that in previous periods, coal was sold through private intermediary companies, often at much lower prices. In some cases, the price was around €8 per ton, even though ESM was the ultimate beneficiary.
“Under the current agreement, KEK sells directly to JSC ESM, without intermediaries and at a price of €24.4 per ton, ensuring that the financial benefit from this commercial relationship remains directly with KEK,” the response said.
According to the Corporation, coal exports will not affect the supply of the power plants or domestic electricity production. The buyer will be responsible for excavation, transportation and other logistical processes.
Meanwhile, KEK is implementing an investment plan worth around €500 million. The plan includes the rehabilitation of generating units, the modernization of mining capacities, and improvements in environmental performance and safety.
The Corporation estimates that the revenue generated by the agreement could contribute to its financial stability and increase its opportunities for investment.
“Criticism is legitimate, and transparency is essential for every public enterprise. But the debate must be based on facts, institutional responsibilities and an analysis of the specific terms of the contract,” KEK said.
The agreement has also prompted reactions on the political scene. Ardian Gjini, leader of the Alliance, criticized the energy policy of the caretaker government and the cancellation of projects aimed at generating electricity in Kosovo.
Gjini said that the Alliance was the only party to react strongly after the cancellation of the “Kosova C” energy project, while the others, according to him, remained silent.
“When the energy project with ContourGlobal was terminated, once again only the Alliance reacted,” Gjini said.
He accused the current government of using, as he put it, “the most bizarre” justifications for not producing electricity in Kosovo.
Acting Minister of Economy Artane Rizvanolli announced that KEK would export coal to North Macedonia, worth up to €73.2 million over three years.
Rizvanolli emphasized that this was the first time such a contract had been signed directly between two public companies, KEK and North Macedonia’s power utility, ESM.
