Kosovo opens new $5 million solar panel factory

(9 Aug 2016) LEAD IN: Kosovo is aiming to take a slice of the expanding green energy market opening a new $5 million USD solar panel factory. It's claimed to be the first of its kind in the Balkans and its owners hope to export solar cells to the rest of Europe and the United States. STORY-LINE: Solar cells set for the sun. At this new solar panel factory in Pristina, workers are carefully assembling rows upon rows of light-converting panels. The JAHA energy solar factory is said to have cost $5 million euros (approx. $5.6 million USD). "This is the only factory in the region of this kind, of this type," says CEO of JAHA energy factory, Gazmend Haxholi. "So, there are no such factories in ex-Yugoslavian countries, there is no such factory in Albania, so we want to promote photovoltaic energy in all these countries. "Our target is exporting (to) Europe and United States, we already are in negotiations with companies from United States and we already have market in Europe for our photovoltaic models." Despite Kosovo sitting on large supplies of coal and its main source of electricity being from coal power plants, Haxholi is hopeful. He believes the country can embrace renewable energy sources, such as solar power. "The main problem in our country is that Kosovo naturally possesses a lot of coal, so politics cannot get rid of coal yet," he says. "But hoping that in future will implement green energy developments, including wind, hydro, solar, all types of renewable energy." The new factory currently has a workforce of around 50 people, but that number is expected to grow in the near future. According to Haxholi, the factory can produce around 200,000 photovoltaic panels a year. He hopes the factory can show Kosovo can play its part in a global move towards renewable energy sources. Some 10,000 people died and 1,700 went missing during the 1998-1999 war as Kosovo fought to break away from Serbia. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, but Serbia has vowed never to recognise the move. "We want to show to the developed world that Kosovo is part of Europe and we are committed to the green energy, even our country cannot afford economical politics of green development as European countries," he says. "We want to show to Europe and to our people that renewable energy is very effective, and the rate of return is very fast comparing to other countries in Europe. "We have 276 days of sunshine and photovoltaic modules can produce quite enough energy." But are Pristina's small businesses keen to join the green revolution? Cafe owner, Avni Krasniqi says he already finds the price of electricity too high, so wouldn't welcome any increase. "Basically, our source of energy is completely electric and at the moment, the electrical supply is very steady, but it's quite expensive," he says. "I would love if I could switch to a different source of supply, renewable source of energy, but we lack quite a lot of information in Kosovo here regarding this and we basically what we know is the own research that we do, and from the information that I have it's quite expensive." You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/1edc32cf2d10d92a4c14ccfa1242fe24 Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork