Kosovo is facing an energy crisis as a result of rising global import prices and rising demand, as temperatures are falling.

On Tuesday, the situation was aggravated further after a bloc of the main “Kosova B” power plant was taken out of use.

Minister of Economy Artane Rizvanolli told the Parliamentary Committee on Economy that the energy situation in Kosovo would be even worse for the next 36 hours, while the bloc from the power plant is out of order.

“A bloc of Kosova B had to be stopped for 36 hours. For the next three days, the energy situation will be even worse,” she warned.

A day later, the public heating supply company Termokos in Pristina cut off the supply of heating to the capital due to a shortage of steam supplied  from the Kosovo Energy Corporation, KEK.

KEK announced that the only clients still being supplied with heat are patients at the University Clinical Center of Kosovo.

It emphasized that on Thursday the conditions for Termokos to supply steam for central heating will resume.

Meanwhile, the Electricity Distribution Company in Kosovo, KEDS, has called for an increase in electricity prices of 7 per cent.

KEDS spokesman Viktor Buzhala told a Kallxo Pernime debate that in the end all decisions on prices are taken by the Energy Regulatory Office, ERO.

The ERO has already opened a process of extraordinary reviews of tariffs, following requests submitted by KEDS and the Universal Electricity Service Provider, KESCO.

Electricity prices are expected to increase by at least 5 per cent.

Based on its legal mandate, ERO has said it will review the applications of licensees, assessing the need for continued electricity supply and affordable prices for consumers.

At the end of October, ERO decided not to increase the price of electricity. According to its decision, energy prices would remain the same as last year until April 2022.

Due to the crisis, citizens of Kosovo have meanwhile been asked to save electricity.

For weeks, many European countries have been gripped by an energy crisis caused by rising gas prices and other factors.

This has also affected the Western Balkans. Besides Kosovo, its neighbours Albania and Northern Macedonia are also facing energy problems.