UNMIK/PR/377

PRESS RELEASE - 1 October 2000

UNMIK Emergency Task Force Tackles  Zvecan Blackout

UNMIK has set up an emergency  task force to restore power to the community of Zvecan in northern Mitrovica following a fire Saturday night which destroyed electrical transformers in the Zvecan lead smelter complex.

The task force is led by acting UNMIK Regional Administrator Jim Fitt and consists of UNMIK officials, the ITT Consortium staff managing Trepca, KFOR and UNMIK Police. It has been working since the outbreak of the fire  to locate emergency energy sources for critical facilities in the community and to meet the needs of those most affected. The task force has brought several generators to Zvecan and more are en route.

The task force is also working on a mid-term strategy to restore power production to the area, cut after four transformers powering the area were destroyed.

UNMIK officials say arson caused the fire which covered 200 square meters of the lead smelter, currently under UNMIK-ITT management.

"Extremists have worked hard to damage the community and livelihoods of Zvecan," said UNMIK Senior Advisor Eric Chevallier. "However, we are determined to protect the community in this emergency phase, as well as over the long term."

Local firefighters, UNMIK and KFOR units extinguished the fire around midnight. They had to contend with an unruly crowd who threw stones at UNMIK fire officials and burned the car of one UNMIK staff member.