Graz, 21 January 2026 – The Secretary General of the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Kosovo, Leonita Shabani Mullarama, is attending the 8^th Central European Biomass Conference (CEBC2026), being held from 21 to 23 January 2026 in Graz, Austria, a premier global event in the bioenergy sector.

The Kosovo delegation comprises officials from the Ministry of Economy, mayors of Deçan, Kamenica, Podujeva and Vitia, representatives from the private sector, the Gjakova District Heating, the CNVP project, and international partners.

CEBC2026 is a major event for the bioenergy sector, bringing together over 1,400 participants from more than 50 countries, including policymakers, researchers, industry leaders, development partners and practitioners, engaging in discussions on bioenergy role in Europe’s energy transition and the pursuit of climate neutrality.

As part of the conference, a dedicated session on wood biomass in Kosovo highlighted national experiences and concrete investment opportunities in sustainable bioenergy solutions.

During this session, the Secretary General of the Ministry of Economy (MoE), Shabani Mullarama, emphasized the strategic challenges and priorities within Kosovo’s energy and heating sector. She underscored the country’s heavy reliance on fossil fuels and aging lignite-fired power plants, and the urgent need to expand renewable energy sources and modern, clean district heating systems.

Mrs. Shabani Mullarama outlined that the Energy Strategy 2022-2031 envisions significant investments in renewable energy, energy efficiency, system flexibility, and the expansion of district heating. She also highlighted the Gjakova District Heating, operating on biomass with support from European Union funds, as a successful model of the clean energy transition.

Her address stressed that while Kosovo’s biomass potential is substantial, it remains underutilized.  In this regard, the Ministry of Economy acknowledges the contributions of CNVP projects and partners in identifying biomass potential and developing feasibility studies for district heating systems across multiple municipalities.

Kosovo’s participation in CEBC2026 underscores its commitment to regional and European cooperation and its readiness to forge new partnerships to advance resilient energy development and environmental protection.