UNMIK/PR/885
Friday, 6 December 2002

SRSG Visits Kosovo B2 Power Plant

PRISTINA/OBILIQ – Today SRSG Michael Steiner visited the Kosovo B2 power plant, whose turbine has started following repairs. It will have to be run for a few days before coming on line and producing electricity.

Mr. Steiner congratulated KEK Managing Director Josef Rieder and the national and international staff for the successful repair of the power plant, which was badly damaged by a lightening strike in July. “I am very proud of the cooperation between international and the local staff here”, said SRSG Michael Steiner. “Kosovo can be proud of it.”

Mr. Steiner was taken through the refurbished power plant by Mr. Rieder. The SRSG noted the major repairs that had been undertaken in the power station in the last four months.

“What we need now, is that the consumers use the energy very carefully”, said SRSG Michael Steiner. He added that everybody must pay for the energy they use.

SRSG Michael Steiner announced that the work to make further repairs would continue. “It lies now on the shoulders of the workers of KEK to help us get through the winter.” But the success of the latest refurbishment encouraged him to be optimistic.