Connecting northern Kosovo, predominantly populated by Serbs, to Pristina, the Ibar-Lepenac canal is essential for the cooling systems of the two coal-fired power plants that supply the Kosovar electricity network. However, on the night of November 29 to 30, this critical infrastructure was damaged by an explosion in the town of Zubin Potok. [nord].
Given Pristina's tense relations with Belgrade, Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti condemned an “attack” which he attributed, without proof, to Serbia.
“This is a criminal and terrorist attack aimed at destroying our critical infrastructure. […] It was carried out by professionals. We believe it comes from gangs led by Serbia,” declared the Kosovar official, without specifying the extent of the damage, during a press conference.
However, photographs published by several Kosovar media outlets show a significant water leak from a breach caused by the explosion. In addition to its importance for the electricity network, the Ibar-Lepenac canal also supplies Pristina with drinking water.
Serbia rejected the accusations made by Mr. Kurti against him. Through Marko Djuric, her Minister of Foreign Affairs, she even condemned “with the greatest firmness the attack” against the Ibar-Lepenac canal and called on “all parties to resist provocations and to favor dialogue, mutual understanding and cooperation”, after denouncing an “unacceptable act of sabotage”. In passing, he even suggested that the Kosovar authorities were involved in this “incident”, without providing any proof either.
This “attack” on the Ibar-Lepenac canal came after a surge in tensions in northern Kosovo, marked by two grenade attacks against a police station and a town hall.
In any case, the Kosovo Security Council met urgently on November 30 to take “additional” measures aimed at strengthening security around sensitive sites and infrastructure. [antennes, ponts, etc.].
The United States “strongly” condemned this attack “against critical infrastructure” in Kosovo. “We are monitoring the situation closely […] and we have offered our full support to the government of Kosovo to ensure that those responsible for this criminal attack are identified and held to account,” their embassy in Pristina said.
French diplomacy also condemned this sabotage, without going so far as to offer “support” to the Kosovar authorities.
“The French Embassy strongly condemns the attack on critical infrastructure in Kosovo, damaging a water canal in Zubin Potok, essential to Kosovo's water supply and the operation of the country's power plants. This attack must be investigated and those responsible must be brought to justice,” she argued, before thanking KFOR [force de l’Otan au Kosovo] and the European mission EULEX for “their rapid response”.
