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Kosovo authorities: The water of Ibër-Lepenc is undrinkable, the energy supply is stable

2024-11-30 17:15:51, Kosova & Bota CNA

Kosovo authorities: The water of Ibër-Lepenc is undrinkable, the energy

The water that passes through the Ibër-Lepenci canal is undrinkable, as a result of an explosion that hit the canal a day ago in a village in the north of the country, the Ministry of Health of Kosovo announced on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Kosovo Energy Corporation (KEK) said that the power supply is stable and that the work of its power plants is continuing normally.

The explosion on Friday evening caused significant damage to the Ibër-Lepenc water channel in the village of Varragë in the municipality of Zubin Potok, raising fears that the water and electricity supply to parts of the country has been endangered.

From the Ibër-Lepenci hydro-system, in Gazivodë (Zubin Potok), water is supplied to the entire north of Kosovo, as well as Prishtina and its surroundings, including the Kosovo Energy Corporation for the cooling of its thermal power plants.

In an announcement on Facebook, the Ministry of Health said that the Regional Center of Public Health in Mitrovica, in cooperation with the Regional Water Company "Mitrovica" have taken untreated water samples to perform the necessary analyses.

"According to the first analyses, carried out on the untreated water, the water passing through the Ibër-Lepenci canal is not clean for drinking at the moment, while in addition to the microbiological and bacteriological analyses, IKSHPK/QRSHP Mitrovica will also analyze parameters others related to the presence of metals in water", the announcement states.

A part of South Mitrovica has been without water supply since 22:00 on Friday, as a result of this attack, for which the Kosovar authorities blame Serbia.

Meanwhile, KEK announced that the Regional Water Company in Prishtina has announced that the capacities destined by this channel for Mitrovica and Prishtina can be provided by other sources, assuring us that the capacity from Ibër-Lepenci will be used only by KEK.

In the damaged part of the Ibër-Lepenci channel, six 900mm pipes have been placed that, according to KEK, can supply the necessary amount for the normal operation of two units of the Kosova B thermal power plant.

"The Emergency Management Agency (EMA), KRU Prishtina (in coordination with all KRUs), have been mobilized with equipment such as autobote (water tankers) to ensure the supply of water to the power plant in case of need and to guarantee reserves necessary water", KEK said.

KEK emphasized that it continues to operate with two units of the Kosova B thermal power plant and two units of the Kosova A thermal power plant, which have not been affected by the lack of water from the canal.

"The operation of thermal power plants continues normally and the management of electricity supply is stable and stable", KEK said.

The corporation also announced that it secured the capacity of 150 MW from the Energy Corporation of Albania, to support the stable supply of electricity.

Friday's attack on the Ibër-Lepenci canal in Zubin Potok has been condemned by the European Union as a "terrorist act and sabotage" against Kosovo's vital infrastructure.

Kurti announced on Saturday that several suspects have been arrested and that material evidence related to the explosion has been found.

The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, said that Serbia is responsible for the "criminal and terrorist attack", which, according to him, was intended to "damage perhaps the most important infrastructure" of the country.

Serbia has denied the accusations of the Kosovar authorities.

The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vu?i?, said that Belgrade has nothing to do with what happened in the Ibër-Lepenci water channel, adding that "Pristina also knows this", reports the Serbian state broadcaster, RTS./REL.