The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)
Protecting the environment in Kosovo*
A project will help improve the water quality of Kosovo’s Sitnica River.
In Kosovo, untreated urban and industrial wastewater discharges, solid waste dumping, and industrial and agricultural activities have all contributed to poor water quality in the Sitnica River and other river basins.
Due to their critical role in ensuring a stable supply of electricity, power plants previously built with less stringent environmental standards continue to operate, including Thermal Power Plant Kosovo B.
At the plant, six distinct wastewater streams currently merge into a single channel. The power plant doesn't have a proper wastewater treatment system in place, which leads to untreated pollutants being discharged directly into the Sitnica River. This results in significant contamination of surface and groundwater.
With €12 million in funding from the European Union (EU), UNOPS is constructing wastewater treatment plants and a chemicals storage building at the power plant to stop harmful waste from flowing into the Sitnica River.
This will help to safeguard both surface and underground water sources throughout the Sitnica Basin.
Clean water is not a luxury, it's a right. This project brings us one step closer to ensuring that communities along the Sitnica River benefit from a healthier environment, and we are committed to delivering that change.
As part of the project, UNOPS will also provide training to power plant personnel on the operation of the wastewater treatment plants.
"This important EU investment in essential infrastructure will support greener development and improve how wastewater is managed while helping Kosovo meet key EU environmental standards," said Hubert Perr, Head of Cooperation for the EU in Kosovo.
*All references to Kosovo are made in the context of UNSCR 1244.
