Kosovo’s largest energy asset, lignite coal, is also its primary detrimental reason to health and environmental issues. Ever since the Dardanian country declared independence in 2008, and even prior, Kosovo has experienced serious problems relating to air quality, municipal waste management, and water pollution. Lignite coal, is the dirtiest, and least efficient, out of all in the coal category. Subsequently, the ‘unconventional resource’ needs revitalization with new mining techniques, such as coalbed methane extraction (CBM) – enhanced or even CO2 injection, coal gasification, syngas remediation etc. to produce the much-needed natural gas that fuels several industries in the country. The past decade has seen lignite rich countries such as USA, China, India, Canada, and Australia use such techniques successfully and the same energy model should be investigated in Kosovo.
Kosovo Case Study: Lignite coal – Energy of the past, Coalbed Methane Extraction – Energy of the future
