Once again, the World Bank is pushing a massive, dirty coal plant in a developing country — this time in war-ravaged Kosovo. The 600-MW project would exacerbate public health problems, do nothing to improve Kosovo’s grossly inefficient electrical grid, and would put the poverty-stricken country into a massive carbon debt that would last for generations.
We wrote about the project last month. This week, activists working to stop coal in Kosovo released a fascinating 15-minute documentary on the issue, outlining the World Bank’s contradictory policies and the potential renewable energy solutions that could help avoid building more dirty coal in the country.
The World Bank says tackling climate change is necessary to “avoid the unimaginable.” But the organization continues to push the dirtiest resource imaginable, lignite coal. When will it actually treat climate change with genuine urgency?
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You ask “When will it actually treat climate change with genuine urgency?”
Easy answer: Never. They never really do get it and when the project takes on a life of it’s own, then all they do is try to save what little face they have left.
Kosovo is a failed state, a NATO protectorate illegally broken off from Serbia to host the gigantic US Camp Bondsteel, and run by the KLA, a terrorist gang specialising in drug running and the human organ trade, in part from victims murdered to order. Kosovo is a glimpse of the dystopian future as the US-led Western Empire strives to maintain global hegemony and elite control, as the ecology of the planet crumbles into chaos.
I think you have been watching to many Milosevic and Putin movies in relation to Kosovo. Kosovo is independent because its people wanted it to be so after the Milosevic regime sent tanks and killed 13,000 and burned down over 200,000 houses. The article shows that Kosovo’s civil society in reality is very strong and says what it means notwithstanding who is behind things. Kosovars will forever be grateful to US and EU for their support but they will ask for what’s the best for their country, even at times when the plans are pushed by our friendly countries. This should be a lesson. Don’t you try to connect your pro-Serbianism to this topic. Kosovars are fighting for a better climate and it’d be better if you take a look at what’s being done in Serbia about it and maybe Russia too. Well done Kosovars, really proud of your efforts!
I do not defend polluters but Kosovo is currently spending 10% of its annual budget in power purchases while it possess one of the largest coal basins in Europe. Across Europe, new coal plants are being built, but we don’t allow Kosovo to build a small one for its own needs, while the two remaining ones are from 1950ies. Surely building a new plant would hasten the closure of the old ones which produce 1000 time more particle pollution than allowed. Allowing for Californian professors to lecture to Kosovo government in dire need of energy investments and accusing World Bank without any fact is not a serious environmentalist job nor progressive thinking. Let Kosovo develop its energy independence and focus on real polluters of the world. A 600 MgW plant in Kosovo will make real difference to people.
Readers should understand that Petrit is one of Kosovo’s Deputy Ministers. Petrit, you should read more before you say that Californian professors accuse World Bank without any facts. You are so out of touch. The World Bank itself modified its figures based on Dr. Kammen’s work for Kosovo’s energy project. Kosovo has as many other clean sources to produce electricity as coal. Coal is killing us slowly but surely. You should spend more time in Obiliq to understand what having a coal plant in your garden means to people living there, including me. Start thinking more of people and less of your pockets please.
Change comes at an expense. The critical part that must be addressed is efficiency. With over 30% losses, they are generating power that is never used, it is linear in this case. Just by correcting the loss factors will reduce the required plant output, coal or otherwise, by 30%. I will wager that the losses are not being dealt with, education of the people on how to reduce and conserve is not be dealt with…and based on historical evidence, Kosovo is being targeted for a new customer base for the US Corporations. Give them the power they need so we can sell them TVs, iPhones, Coke and cars. It is a sham, under the guise of “progress” and “democracy” the World Bank (notice the American in the yellow shirt with white cuff and collars) is really pushing to “westernize” Kosovo to become a new customer to western lifestyles and products. The World Bank is funded by???