The State of Water in Kosovo, 2010

RaportHaving into consideration that Kosovo is a developing country, it is expected that in thefuture the water use demands will be increased, which could further worsen the supplysituation of the population with drinking water, especially in accumulative basins that areused for both drinking and industrial purposes.4.4 THE USE OF WATER FOR HYDRO-ENERGETICSOn contrary to the electricity produced by the thermal power, the electricity produced byhydro power plants is gas free.The usability of hydro energetic resources is contingent upon geological and topographicconditions for dam construction and especially the topographic conditions. It requireshigh initial development and operational investments, actions to mitigate the floodingconsequences and to mitigate the ecosystem changes due to the large area coveragewith water (Water accumulation). It includes also the population resettlements.Construction of new dams creates major problems between rural areas near the river,and affects the energy companies, tourist companies and water supply companies,because each of these seek to defend its interests that are almost diametrically opposedto each other.The greatest benefit from the use of water power may be realized through constructionof small hydropower stations. At first, the construction of these hydropower stations hasbeen designed for electricity supply to remote areas, but later on, all hydro power plantswere connected to the integrated electricity networks. These plants belong mostly to thederivation type and use the water resources near the areas where located. Lifespan ofthese hydropower plants is 25 years.Development of the programme for activation of these hydropower plants is part of theenergy policy in the Energy Strategy of Kosovo and it is expected these power plants tostart function as soon as possible.In Kosovo currently is operating the Ujmani Hydropower plant, which has the powerproduction capacity of 2 x 17 MW, and five other small hydropower plants in the distributionnetwork with a capacity of 11.82 MW. Other small hydropower plants are: Dikanci, Burimiand Prizreni. In Kosovo operates also the Kozhnjeri hydropower plant, which is given byconcession, and generates a very small amount of electricity.Table 24: Production of electricity from existing hydropower plantsHydropower plants Power MW Energy GWhExisting hydropower plant in the distribution network 11.82 38Hydropower plant of Ujmani 35.0 101Total 36.82 139Kosovo is characterized by rivers and water streams with a hydro-energetic potential,which can be considered to be used for electricity production. The Drini i Bardhe Riverin the western part of Kosovo, represent almost the half of the total hydro energeticpotential in Kosovo. The total usable hydropower potential in Kosovo is about 0.7 TWh/year. The most important hydropower plant that can be built in Kosovo is the Hydropowerplant in Zhur, in the course of the Drini i Bardhe, with a potential of 0.377 TWh/year. Thewater flows of rivers Drini i Bardhe, Ibri, Morava, Lepenci, Llapi, are characterized by asignificant potential for electricity production.The table 25 shows the hydropower potential of rivers in Kosovo64120 © Agjencia e Kosoves per Mbrojtjen e Mjedisit