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1020
Research Article
International Journal of Current Engineering and Technology
ISSN 2277 - 4106
© 2013 INPRESSCO. All Rights Reserved.
Available at http://inpressco.com/category/ijcet
The Consumption of Firewood as an Energy Consumption among Households in
Kosovo and its Environment Implications
Bujar Piraa, Ibrahim Cunaku a, Ylber Limani b and Agron Bajraktari a*
aUniversity of Prishtina, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Mother Teresa Str. 10000 Prishtina, Republic of Kosovo
bUniversity for Business and Technology, Emshir, 10000 Prishtina, Republic of Kosovo
Accepted 05 August 2013, Available online 10 August, Vol.3, No.3 (August 2013)
Abstract
Energy consumption research in household is very complicated since households in Kosovo use various energy sources
for many purposes. Furthermore, the energy consumption has become even This high preference of usage of firewood in
households, which is continuously increasing, will have more unpredicted by the fact that Kosovo is has a very high
unemployment rate (highest in Europe), very high electricity prices, which for most of the Kosovar households
unmanageable financially as a result of low average salary, which complicates issues further. This paper will try to show
the quantity and quality, respectively the efficiency of energy consumption in Kosovo separated in different types of
energy sources. Although all energy consumption sources will be analysed, more attention will be paid to the firewood
consumption for various reasons but mainly financial since for some households wood from their own forests or even
public forests is free, even though wood logging is illegal without permission in Kosovo. Furthermore, the paper will
analyse living conditions, quality of construction with regards the absorptive material or energy insulated, house
equipments or energy consumption sources, varieties of heating appliances that are used in household, and finally some
basic information that are linked with the efficiency of energy consumption, the level of efficiency measures used in
Kosovo households as well their future plans regarding energy efficiency.
Keywords: Energy, Kosovo, households, consumption, firewood
1. Introduction
1
Over the last ten years Kosovo has had a rocky ride with
regards to available energy, in particular electrical energy.
Kosovo of its 11,000km2, 43% of it is forest. From about
half million hectares of Kosovo’s forests 60% is public
and 40% is private owned forest (FAO, 2003).
Human Development Report on Energy for
Development (UNDP Kosovo 2007) has identified
firewood as the main source of heating by 80 percent of
households surveyed for this report, with electric heating
being the main source for 12 per cent. According to
UNDP, there is only a small difference in the relative use
of electricity and firewood between urban and rural
households.
Also, in some rural parts of Kosovo, as a result of
restriction of electrical energy and numerous breakdowns
on both power plants and distribution network, there were
times when households and businesses were more without
electricity then they were with. On addition to this and
with high fuel prices people turned to the consumption of
firewood for both heating and households cooking as well.
huge consequences to the environment in Kosovo. The
*Corresponding author: Agron Bajraktari, Phone: +37745999666
wood used from the Kosovo forests is much more than
what is allowed, thus, if it continues at the current
consumption rate, Kosovo could have no forests in the
future (Pira et al., 2011).
2. Methodology
In 2009 Riinvest Institute has conducted a comprehensive
survey with all sectors of economy in Kosovo about
overall energy consumption. The study was conducted
with all five sectors of Kosovar economy: household,
industry, agriculture, transport and services. All sectors
were interviewed separately and apart from the industry
sector, which the whole sector was interviewed, all other
sectors we interviewed using samples.
All alternatives to the data collection were analysed
and interpersonal, “face-to-face”, interviews have been
selected as the best methods in collection of quantitative
energy consumption data.
For the purpose of the households sector, initial
analyses were done to determine that there have been
similar surveys done on the energy consumption and
firewood in particular. In addition, regional and
experiences from developing countries were conducted to
Agron Bajraktari et al International Journal of Current Engineering and Technology, Vol.3, No.3 (August 2013)
1021
determine the so called “rule of thumb” data for
developing countries were sought.
The next step was to determine the population of the
households in Kosovo. Since, the last census in Kosovo
was conducted in 1981 the data from statistical office on
the size and location of the total household population
would have been incomplete. Therefore, the best
alternative to the census information was the information
from costumer case database of the KEK (Kosovo Energy
Corporation), the only distribution of electricity in
Kosovo.
The next step is to determine the number of active
users of electricity in the last year since Kosovo has large
number of Kosovars who live abroad and yet have a house
in Kosovo that might rarely or never visit. Based on the
data of KEK’ costumer care database, which had 300501
household active clients during 2008 from all the regions
and communities of Kosovo. From this number of active
users of electricity in 2008, were extracted 1205
households (KEK costumers).
Now, since KEK lacks data regarding the clients in the
northern part of Kosovo, 150 households were surveyed
for that region based on a standard methodology for cases
where there is no electronic registry. This sample is
representative and gives a confidence result for 99%.
A very comprehensive questionnaire was drafted
which included questions about the size of the households,
their income and expenditure, type of energy used as well
as the scale (quantity) used and for what purpose. The
questionnaire also included some indicative questions for
energy efficiency.
The household survey was conducted during the period
of 15th of May – 2nd of June 2009, from 46 surveyors
which have the necessary experience for implementing
fieldwork research. The interview was conducted with the
head of family who is more informed regarding the
household energy consumption.
3. Main survey findings
Following data collection in all sectors (since the
household sectors was the last of the sectors to be
researched) if was apparent that households is the sector
that consumes the most energy available in Kosovo. The
survey analysis also showed is that there is a:
Much higher consumption of biomass (firewood)
compared with estimates in the past (MEM Energy
Balance, 2007). It is estimated by Ministry of Energy
and Mining (then, now it is called Ministry of
Economic Development) than the biomass
consumption is about 2.41m3 compare to all other
energy sources available in Kosovo (MEM, 2008).
Little (just under 1%) use of other energy sources:
Generated heat, Solar Energy and Biofuels.
Tendency for the increase of coal consumption has
nearly all sectors of the economy but more on the
household sector.
The household sector is the sector that consumes the most
firewood (87%) followed by the industry sector. It is
important to mention that the wood used in the industry
sector is used for energy purposes (bakeries, heating, etc)
and not for the wood production industry. In household
sector 76% of firewood is used for heating while 24% of it
is used for cooking and other domestic (non-heating)
purposes (Pira et al, 2011).
Figure 1 Composition of energy sources in energy
consumption in Kosovo
Figure 2 Composition of energy sources in energy
consumption in Kosovo
The survey with the households has also shown that 88%
of the households use firewood in one way or another
(potentially in conjunction with other energy sources) for
heating purposes. This high prices and unreliable electric
energy has reduced the dependence on it to about 10%
while only a limited number of households used diesel and
LPG as a fuel source. On the other hand, fewer households
use firewood for cooking (about 66%) while just over half
of them prefer to use electric energy for cooking.
Vast majority of Kosovars who use local heating
appliances (not local or city central heatin) use woden
stoves. About 70% of households in Kosovo use firewood
for heating. This claim is emphasised by the fact that over
87% of the respondents use different kind of stoves for
Oil
products
35%
Biomass
30%
Electric
energy
25%
Coal
9%
Other
1%
Households
88%
Industry
7%
Servic es
3%
Agricilture
2%
Agron Bajraktari et al International Journal of Current Engineering and Technology, Vol.3, No.3 (August 2013)
1022
heating while under 13% use central heating with
electrical energy, LPG, Oil products and in some cases
even coal and firewood central heating. Central heating
makes only 2% of overall heating in the households sector.
This is slitely smaller than the early estimates that 5% of
the energy estimates (UNDP, 2007). There is a rational
however for higher percentage of usage of generated heat
(district central heating in two towns: Prishtina and
Gjakova) as energy source for heating since this paper
only talks about the usage of energy by the households
while the generated heat can be used by the services sector
as well. Also, this survey did not include the generated
heat by the Mitrovica District Heating, therefore, all those
in mind, the generated heat could account to 5% of total
energy used in heating.
About 88% of households in Kosovo use firewood for
heating. This claim is emphasised by the fact that over
87% of the respondents use different kind of stoves for
heating while under 13% use central heating with
electrical energy, LPG, Oil products and in some cases
even coal and firewood central heating.
Figure 3 The source of energy used in heating (a) and
cooking (b)
Regarding firewood, one of the main findings of the
Riinvest survey is the consumption of firewood in
households sector. Until 2007 is thought that for
household needs, 2.41m3 fire woods per year per
household are consumed (MEM, 2008).
According to surveys conducted by the household sector,
the average household consumption of wood for
household needs is 7.28m3 per year per household. These
findings are in line with the study conducted by
Openshaw, where on average 1.12 m3 per capita of
firewood are consumed in the developing countries
(Openshaw, 2009).
As per the 2011 census, in Kosovo, the total number of
households is 297,090 and number of household’s
members is 5.9. Based on these information, one can
conclude that the annual firewood consumption in Kosovo
is around 2,162,000 m3 (at the rate of 7.28 m3 per
household).
According to the Ministry of Environment and Spatial
Planning approximately 222,000 m3 of wood being cut
each year (MESP, 2006). This is only 10% of the firewood
annually used in Kosovo. A questions then arrases, where
does the other 90% of the wood consumed in Kosovo
come from? Of course, it doesn’t come from import, but
rather from potentially illegal logging.
There are several publications on the firewood
consumtion in Kosovo by different individuals and
organisation. One such publicatioin if an annalusis of the
renewable energy and its impact in the rural development.
The authors have estimated that only 50% of Kosovars use
firewood as a source of energy and the total annual
consumption of firewood in Kosovo is 837,500m3 (Ibra
and Buchenrieder, 2009)
A study conducted in 2012 by WB-PROFOR attempts
to show dhe difference in the annual allowance logging of
900,000 m3 of forewood, compare top the 1.44milion m3
of annual consumption, at the rate of 7m3 of firewood
consumed annulay and 66% of the Kosovo houselds using
wood (WB-PROFOR, 2012). Though this is lower that the
paper shows, is actually ephasisis the difference in the
official allowance and the actual use of firewood.
Another recent study conducted by the AUK Institute
showed that the average annual consumption pwer
households is approximation of 9.6 m3 (Bowet at, 2013).
This is not far from the results of the study presented in
this paper.
In 2003, there were 464,800 ha of forest in Kosovo (or
42% of its territory). Wood volume in Kosovo’s forests in
2003 was 53 million m3 with an average of 114m3 for an
hectare. The annual level of the volume of wood increase
(new wood plant and wood growing) is 2.69% (FAO,
2003). Considering this fact and the fact that in Kosovo
2.5 million m3 of wood were consumed in 2008 (87%
from the household sector), if this trend is to be continued
then it can theoretically be concluded that in 2028
Kosovo will have no forest left.
4. Conclusion and recommendations
A high consumption by the household sector of firewood
may be justified by the fact that:
The areas that are not covered by central heating
usually rely on electrical energy for heating.
However, the electrical energy is implemented with
Fire
wood
54%
Electric
energy
28%
Coal
9%
LPG
9%
Fire
wood
70%
Electric
ener gy
21%
Coal
5%
LPG
1%
Central
heating
2%
Oil
produc t
1%
Agron Bajraktari et al International Journal of Current Engineering and Technology, Vol.3, No.3 (August 2013)
1023
Figure 4 Prediction of firewood consumption in Kosovo through 2028
the plan ABC (A being the category with the least
power reductions) which makes it difficult to rely on
it for hearing. Moreover, the price of electrical energy
makes it unfavorable to use it for heating.
In Kosovo there is no oil for heating which could be
used by households, which could replace the high
price of heating by oil (diesel) which is currently
applied by a number of households.
LPG is a good alternative; however it is in the very
beginning stages in Kosovo. There is a small number
of households which use mobile ovens for heating
with LPG, but this number is very small.
Considering the fact that households have to warm during
winter, and having no other reliable alternative, they rely
in the most reliable and economical source of energy. In a
large number of households wood is even a free energy
source, especially in cases where wood is collected from:
Their forests, 37% of forests in Kosovo is private
property, and
Public forests without even paying.
There are several way which would reduce the
consumption of wood to the mass:
1. Use of coal as a substitute of wood (wherever it is
possible).
2. Encouragement of wood drying before consumption.
Even though there is a tendency of increased coal
consumption among households, this tendency has to be
accelerated in order to substitute coal with wood. Better
access for buying coal and more favorable price would
lead to a greater consumption by interested households.
Encouragement for wood drying would be an important
element in order to reduce the volume of cut wood in
Kosovo’s forests.
Also, the plan to build new Cogeneration Heating
capacities in Prishtina linking KEK Power Plant Kosova B
with Termokos, Prishtina’s District heating Company
(MED, 2013). This can contribute greatly towards
reduction of the reliance on the firewood in the city of
Prishtina and possibly, in the years to come, even beyond
Prishtina.
References
Pira B., Cunaku I., Hoxha N., Bajraktari A., (2011): Energy
Consumption in Households Sector in Kosovo – Future
Developments, TMT
Kosovo Forest Inventory, (2003): United Nations Organization
for Food and Agriculture (FAO)
Estimates of energy demant ion Kosovo for the period 2009-
2018, (2008): Ministry of Energy and Mining, Republic of
Kosovo
Openshaw K., (2009): Woodfuel - A time for reasesment, UN
Sustainable Development Journal
UNDP, (2007): Energy for Development, Human Development
Report
WB – PROFOR, (2012): Study and Analysis of Innovative
Financing for Sustainable Forest Management in the
Southwest Balkan - Inception Phase Report Part III Kosovo
Wood Biomass Case Albania & Kosovo
Menderes I., (2009): Analysis of Renewable Energy And Its
Impact on Rural Development in Kosovo
Bowen B.H., Myers J. A., Myderrizi A., Hasaj B., Halili B.,
(2013): Kosovo Household Energy Consumption Facts &
Figures
Heating Strategy 2011-2018 (2011): Ministry of Economic
Development (MED), Republic of Kosovo
