This is a best prospect industry sector for this country. Includes a market overview and trade data.
Last Published: 2/26/2019

Overview
The mining sector has traditionally been an important contributor to Kosovo's economy.  The industry declined during the 1990s due to a lack of investment in equipment, facilities, and the development of new mines.  Significant foreign investment potential exists in this sector.  Kosovo has a varied geology containing a range of exploitable metal and mineral deposits including gold, chrome, nickel, aluminum, copper, iron metals, and lead-zinc.  Kosovo also possesses the world's fifth-largest proven reserves of lignite.  There is some potential to exploit gold, silver and marble.

Kosovo’s energy corporation is currently looking at developing a new mine that will provide coal for one existing power plant Kosovo B and the new power plant” Kosova e Re”.  Details for the development of this mine are expected to be published in 2018 or early 2019.

Many of the existing mines have been privatized, with varying degrees of success.  The Privatization Agency of Kosovo (PAK) is in the process of re-privatizing many mines where investors failed to fulfill their obligations.  The Trepca mining complex contains Kosovo’s largest mines.  At the height of production in the 1960s and 1970s, Trepca employed over 22,000 workers throughout the former Yugoslavia, although most mining operations and processing facilities were located in Kosovo.  Significant investment in the complex is at a standstill pending the Government of Kosovo’s implementation of the 2016 Law on Trepca  urging the government to explore potential private partnerships.  Serbia claims ownership of Trepca's assets in contrast with Kosovo law and U.S. government policy.
The Independent Commission for Mines and Minerals (ICMM) regulates Kosovo's minerals sector, issues exploration and mining licenses, and ensures legislative compliance with international mining, environment, and safety standards.  ICMM provides key technical information to prospective bidders.
 

 2014201520162017
Total Local Production76.7N/AN/AN/A
Total Exports50.547.069.772.2
Total Imports528.2456.4357.3350.0
Imports from the USN/AN/A7.4N/A
Total Market Size554.4N/AN/AN/A
Exchange Rates0.90.90.9 
Unit: millions of U.S. dollars
Total market size = (total local production + imports) - exports
Source: Independent Commission for Mines and Minerals;
 
Leading Sub-Sectors
  • Exploration, mining, and extraction
  • Legal and consulting services
  • Equipment and spare parts sales; maintenance services
Opportunities
  • Possible full ownership or operation of new or existing mines following a PPP structure
  • Engineering and construction of a new power plant
  • Sales of equipment, spare parts, and maintenance services
  • Minerals export to global markets

Web Resources

Kosovo Energy Regulatory Office  
Kosovo Ministry of Economic Development 
Kosovo Privatization Agency 
Independent Commission on Mines and Minerals
 
Ramiz Krasniqi, Director of ICMM
Armend Daci Street
Pristina, Kosovo
Telephone: +383 (0)38 240 252 ext. 228
Fax: +383 (0)38 245 844
E-mail:  rkrasniqi@kosovo-mining.org   
Web: www.kosovo-mining.org

 

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