LICENSING OF REGIONAL WATER COMPANIES

In a ceremony organized today in Prishtina, Water and Waste Regulatory Office (WWRO), in accordance with its legal mandate based on Law no. 03/L-086, has renewed Service Licenses for seven Regional Water Companies, which provide water supply and wastewater services, as well as for the company which provides Bulk Water Supply services. Licenses for these companies are applicable for the next 3 (three) years, commencing on 31st October 2009.
 

Licensed companies are:

• RWC ‘Prishtina’ J.S.C, Prishtinë
• RWC ‘Hidrodrini’ J.S.C., Pejë
• RWC ’Radoniqi’ J.S.C., Gjakovë
• RWC ‘Bifurkacioni’ J.S.C., Ferizaj
• RWC ‘Hidromorava’ J.S.C., Gjilan
• RWC ‘Mitrovica’ J.S.C., Mitrovicë
• RWC ‘Hidroregjioni Jugor’ J.S.C., Prizren
• Hydro-economic Enterprise ‘Ibër-Lepenci’ J.S.C., Prishtinë

In the ceremony, besides representatives of the licensed public companies, participated also the representatives of relevant institutions of the Kosova water supply sector:

• Ramadan Sejdiu, Head of the Policy and Monitoring Unit of Public Enterprises at Ministry of Finance and Economy (MFE)
• Naser Bajraktari, Director of the Water Department at Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning (MMPH),
• Nadire Vitija, Executive Director of Association of Water Supply Companies (SHUKOS),

Mr. Afrim Lajçi WWRO Director, while talking about the importance of licensing water, highlighted that:

“Licensing of water companies is one of the most important aspects of the regulatory process which WWRO implements, because with the licensing, activities of these companies are subject to the conditions and standards determined by regulatory framework. With the service licenses are set clearly specific tasks and responsibilities of the companies in performing their activities with regard to water supply and wastewater services provided to consumers.

Mr. Lajçi referring to the latest developments in water supply and wastewater sector said that with the reforms undertaken by responsible institutions, it has been created a sound legislative and institutional framework which presents a good basis for the development of the sector in the coming years. As a result of these reforms, the performance of the water companies in Kosova has shown a continuous improvement during last 3 (three) years. Moreover, as a result of a good inter-institutional cooperation, the work of water companies became more transparent.
“Apart from the positive developments, water and wastewater services sector still faces many challenges and it is still far from our common goal, which is: provision of sustainable water and wastewater services at an acceptable level of quality and reliability at an affordable price for all citizens of Kosova. Undoubtedly, the main challenge is the achievement of full financial sustainability which is a precondition for qualitative and efficient services. This is not achievable without higher commitment of the management of these companies especially in increasing the collection rates and reducing the water losses” said further Mr. Lajçi.

”Institutional support, especially in overcoming the difficulties related to the rule of law, which among others include the effectiveness of courts and the police to combat abusive behaving (theft and misuse of drinking water, non-payment of the bills, etc), then addressing problems of (non)payment of social cases and minorities etc, is of fundamental importance to achieving any significant progress of this sector. In this context, the establishment of the Water Task Force within the Government is a demonstration of the Government commitment to overcome difficulties that water companies are confronting with”, emphasized Mr. Lajçi in his speech.


On behalf of Kosovo Government, Mr. Ramadan Sejdiu, representative of MEF and Mr. Naser Bajraktari from MMPH, addressed the participants of this ceremony. Both of them emphasized the importance of developing the water sector for the population and the economy and also promised their full cooperation and institutional support for water companies in order to overcome the problems that these companies are confronting with.

On behalf of the water companies, Mr. Skender Bublaku, Chief Executive of RWC “Prishtina” who addressed the participants. He emphasized the zeal of the water companies to provide qualitative services for the customers as well as for fulfilling the obligations imposed to the companies with the licensing process.