Kosovo businesses hit hard as power cuts cause widespread disruption

Kosovo’s ongoing power crisis is causing widespread damage to businesses, from bakeries to factories, with frequent outages destroying equipment and crippling production.

Pristina, January 10, 2025 – Power outages are causing chaos for businesses across Kosovo, with local bakeries, factories, and other enterprises suffering from equipment damage and lost production.

Vllaznim Likaj, who runs a bakery in the village of Davidoc, is one of many feeling the sting of Kosovo’s power crisis. "The power cuts are ruining us. The dough goes bad, and our equipment is being destroyed," Likaj said. “We’ve had to throw away batches of bread, and the equipment keeps breaking down.”

Lulzim Rafuna from the Kosovo Chamber of Commerce says nearly every business is impacted. “These power outages are crippling. Small businesses can’t afford to keep up with the rising costs and broken equipment," he said.

In response, business owners like Milazim Berisha, who runs a dairy farm in Fushë Kosovë, are investing in expensive generators, but it’s not enough. “We’ve had power cuts lasting 12 hours. Our equipment is damaged and we’re struggling to stay competitive,” Berisha explained.

Despite widespread complaints to the Kosovo Energy Distribution Company (KEDS) and the Ministry of Economic Development, many business owners feel ignored. "We’re just trying to survive. There’s no time to complain," said Likaj.

As Kosovo’s energy crisis deepens, businesses are facing continued disruption and uncertainty, with no clear solution in sight.