The Kosovo government has decided to suspend crypto mining activities in the country as part of measures to deal with power shortages this winter. The move was proposed by a special parliamentary committee responsible for bridging the gap between electricity supply and demand.

Kosovo authorities ban crypto mining to save needed energy

Pristina’s executive power has taken action to stop the minting of energy-intensive digital coins Kosovo, A partially recognized republic in Southeast Europe. According to local media reports, the country faces power shortages during the cold winter.

Kosovo’s Minister of Economy, Artane Rizvanolli, announced on Tuesday that it would cease crypto mining operations. According to the “Communiqué” quoting her statement, the decision was made on the recommendation of the “Emergency Measures for Energy Supply” technical committee established by the national legislature.

According to DTT Net, the Kosovo Assembly reached an agreement on these restrictions last week. Due to the increased demand for electricity in the cold winter, Kosovo has been experiencing power outages, and the authorities are working hard to find solutions to alleviate the energy crisis.

Minister Rizvanolli added that Kosovo’s law enforcement agencies will work together to find encrypted mining facilities and stop the mining of digital currencies. “These actions are aimed at solving potential unexpected or long-term lack of power production capacity, energy transmission or distribution capacity, in order to overcome the energy crisis without placing further burdens on citizens of the Republic of Kosovo,” she elaborated.

In response to the electricity deficit, the government declared a 60-day state of emergency in December, which will allow it to allocate funds for energy imports and implement power outages. Kosovo’s energy needs are mainly met by its coal-fired power plants.

However, in winter, when supply exceeds demand, the Kosovo Energy Distribution System Company is forced to make up for the shortage through imports. At the same time, the “Communiqué” pointed out that the global energy crisis has led to a sharp increase in electricity prices in the international market.

Kosovo has seen The popularity of mining With the growth of cryptocurrency prices, especially when it is mainly Serbian North For more than 20 years, consumers in several cities have not paid anything for electricity. Earlier this year, Balkan Insight reported that the Albanian-controlled Pristina government has ordered the country’s public utilities to pay these bills within six months, and the authorities are trying to find a permanent solution.

Do you think Kosovo will allow crypto miners to resume activities after overcoming the power shortage? Tell us in the comments section below.

Lubomir Tasef

Lubomir Tassev is a tech-savvy journalist from Eastern Europe. He likes Hitchens’ famous quote: “Being a writer is my nature, not what I do.” In addition to encryption, blockchain and financial technology, international politics and economics Are the other two sources of inspiration.