Kosovo introduces rolling power cuts as European energy crisis deepens

Kosovo's power system is already completely affected by global energy prices, forcing the country to introduce rolling two-hour blackouts for most of its 2 million people on Wednesday, December 22, 2021. Only emergency customers will stay unaffected.

This wave of electricity problems in Kosovo started after a unit at their main coal power plant malfunctioned last week, dropping the country's local power production to less than a third of consumption and forcing them to import electricity at extremely high prices.

Blackouts were first announced to last for 24 hours but were extended indefinitely on Thursday, December 23.

"Given that the energy crisis has already deepened in our country, and on the other hand other factors, such as overloads of the power system and the trend of rapid consumption growth, the decision was made that planned electricity restrictions continue in the following days," Kosovo's electricity distributor KEDS said Thursday.¹

According to the plan, blackouts will continue to last about 2 hours for each group of customers at different times of the day.

"The phenomenon that is hindering the timely connection of certain groups, is large load appearing at the end of each blackout. To eliminate this phenomenon, the cooperation of all is required. Consumers who are without electricity should have the electrical equipment turned off or disconnected from the outlet, in order for the process of reconnection of each output to be carried out successfully," KEDS said.

The energy crisis has gripped the whole of Europe, of which Kosovo is a part, the operator added and urged everyone to rationalize consumption.

"Saving electricity where possible is very important. If each of us contributes, dealing with this crisis will be easier to manage and will affect the power system as little as possible."

Europe is getting a taste of how bad this winter's energy crisis could get, Bloomberg's Jesper Starn and Misha Savic commented.²

Read more:

• Electricity prices in Europe surge to record highs – The Watchers
• Natural gas prices in Europe explode to all-time highs as major Russian flow stops – The Watchers

References:

¹ Mënyrat e informimit për kufizimet e energjisë elektrike si pasojë e krizës energjetike – KEDS Energy

² Europe’s Energy Crisis Deepens as Kosovo Rolls Out Power Cuts – Bloomberg

Featured image credit: KEDS Energy