Pristina, December 12, 2008 – The Ministry of Energy and Mining today presented in front of the Municipal Assembley of Prizren and Sharr (ex Dragash) Municipalities, the Project of building Zhur Hydrocentral. Apropos, besides the Minister of Energy and Mining, Ms.Justina Shiroka Pula, there where also present Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning Mr.Mahir Yagcilar, dep/Minister of Energy and Mining Mr.Blerim Rexha and the Director of the PATEL Project Office, Lorik Haxhiu.
Minister Pula said that the presented project is with a special economic and strategic importance for the Government of Kosovo and for Prizren and Sharr Region also. She said that the Government of Kosovo is assured for improving the energy situation on our Region, giving space to implementing of the different projects. “Development of Kosovo energy is based on the Energy Strategy and Politics of the Government of Kosovo for the Energy sector where one of the priorities is activating the water hydropotential by building the small hydrocentrals, Zhur hidrocentral and Ujman Hydrocentral” said Minister Pula.
According to her, such projects would stabilize the providing, stimulate the development of the Municipalities and Communities basing on the obligations made from the International agrement and EU Directives, where until 2020 is required that 20% of the consumption should be covered from the renovated resources. Minister Pula had mentioned that the success or falure of this project is depended on the direct engagement of the Municipalities of this Region demanding an engagement of support of this project.
From his side, the Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning (MESP), Mr.Mahir Yagcilar said that, MESP is supporting the base principles of protecting the environment and the rational management of waters, as a challenge has protection of the water quality. “Our Country has all the opportunities to increase the capacities of using the alternative energy. This hydroenergy capacity would have positive effect of economy and it goes on the way of fulfilling the EU Directives for increasing the renovated energy” said Mr.Yagcilar to add that MESP will take care that HC Zhur would not have an negative effect on the place where it will be builded.
The Presidents of Prizren and Sharr Municipalities Ramadan Muja and Salim Januzi had greeted the iniciative of this project. They said that this project is very important for this Region. According to them, this iniciative for building the HC of Zhur dates from the 50-ies, but because of the known reasons unfortutanely this project could not be realized until now.
The water that will be used for Zhur HC would be used for the other needs of this area also and it will have positive effects on economy, said the Leaders of these Municipalities.
Project for building the HC in Zhur is presented by the Project Manager of PATEL Office , Lorik Haxhiu, meanwhile the International Experts had exposed it’s social influence, there was a lot of expressed interest from the Leaders of Prizren and Sharr Municipalities also.
