Balkans Joint Conference and Exhibition – 10 Years of a Successful Cooperation!

On 8, 9, 10 November 2022, SHUKALB in partnership with SHUKOS (The Water and Wastewater Works Association Kosova) organized the 10^th Balkans Joint Conference and Exhibition, titled “Groundwater – Making the Invisible Visible”, at Emerald Hotel, in Prishtina, Kosova. The Conference attracted over 400 water professionals representing water utilities, donor’s community, private companies, academic institutions as well as other central and local government institutions from 16 different countries.

As usual, the Balkans Joint Conference and Exhibition provided again a platform for discussion, where participants had the opportunity to share their knowledge and experience in dealing with water sector issues and creating networking opportunities among professionals of the water sector in the Balkan Region.

Prior to the start of the Opening Ceremony, on 8 November, several Pre-Conference events were organized to include the Young Water Professionals Forum from Kosovo and Albania; the Regional Workshop of the Benchmarking Program for the Kosova and Albania HUB, the Joint Meeting with Stakeholders on “Capacity Development in the Water Sector and Advocacy of the Water Associations for Creating an Enabling Environment”, and the Workshop of DHI Group on “Hydraulic analyses of water supply systems or digital twins supporting NRW, Energy management of water utilities”.

The Opening Ceremony in the evening of 8 November started with the welcome addresses by the President of SHUKOS, Zenel Zenelaj and the President of SHUKALB, Petrit Tare, who greeted the participants and invited them to follow the program of the conference during the next two days and to visit the technical exhibit of the private sector that is organized in parallel with the conference.

The opening ceremony continued with greeting remarks of H.E. Albin Kurti, Prime Minister, Government of the Republic of Kosova. In his speech, among others, H.E. Albin Kurti stated: “The Balkans Joint Conference is the most important event for professionals in the field of water in Albania, Kosova, North Macedonia and Montenegro, in which topics and developments of interest to water supply and sewerage services are addressed. In addition, this annual conference recognizes the vital importance of water supply and sanitation services, promotes the exchange of technological experiences, and provides a perspective for young professionals in the sector”.

Other personalities to deliver congratulatory addresses were H.E. Thomas Kolly, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Swiss Embassy, Kosova, H.E. Matthias Conrad, Deputy Head of Mission, German Embassy, Kosova, and Gábor Brandstätter, Director of International Business Development, Budapest Water Works, Hungary.

The Opening Ceremony continued with the traditional awards ceremony to recognize the efforts of individuals who have had an impact with their work and efforts for bettering the water sector.  The SHUKALB Board of Directors was awarded to Dr. Gabriele Lames, Program Manager, GIZ, with the motivation: “In recognition and gratitude for her contribution to the water sector in Albania and the outstanding support to SHUKALB’s mission, in particular for the Capacity Development programs for Water Supply and Sewerage Companies and the Awareness and Outreach programs of young generations.” The award “A Life in the Water Sector” was granted to Elia Pendavinji, Korca Water Utility; Ing Piro Ndreu, Fier Water Utility, Ing. Albert Tavanxhiu, Pogradec Water Utility and Kujtim Luli, Shkodra Water Utility.

The Opening Ceremony was concluded with the official opening of the Technical Exhibition.

The Technical Program of the Conference consisted of 16 thematically diverse sessions organized into 12 different Parallel Sessions and 4 Plenary Sessions, which addressed over 44 presentations, covering a broad range of multifaceted topics.

The Technical Conference Program started in the morning of 9 November, with a welcome by Elisabeta Poçi, Executive Director of SHUKALB, who provided an overview of the pre-conference activities that took place the previous day and the Program for the 1^st day of the Conference. She also acknowledged the contribution of the sponsors who supported the organization of the event.

The Conference participants were greeted by the speeches of Linda Çavdarbasha, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning and Infrastructure, Kosova and Enkelejda Muçaj, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy, Albania.

The Conference continued with the first keynote address by Aude Farnault, Water Team, OECD Environment Directorate, France who stated that: “Groundwater is increasingly used and intensive groundwater use leads to major challenges. Intensive groundwater pumping can lead to: Long-term depletion of aquifers and Significant negative environmental externalities, including: Stream depletion; Salinity and infiltration of polluted water and Aquifer compaction and land subsidence”.

The first plenary session of the program was dedicated to the overall theme of the conference “Groundwater – Making the Invisible Visible”. The session was moderated by Elisabeta Poçi, SHUKALB, and the panelists who joined the discussions were Fidaim Sahiti, Environmental Development Agency Program in Kosova, Swedish International Development Agency, Kosova; Ylber Mirta, Head of the Water Department, Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning, North Macedonia; Petrit Tare, Administrator, Korça Regional Water Supply and Sewerage Company, Albania; and Dr. Arben Gjata, Lecturer, Fan S. Noli University, Korça, Albania.

Following the first plenary session, the program continued with four (4) parallel sessions “Water Resources Management”; “Technical Management of PUC”; “Regulatory Challenges” and “Non-Revenue Water Management”.

The second plenary session “Regionalization of Water and Wastewater Services: Challenges and Opportunities” was moderated by Baton Begolli, Inter-Ministerial Water Council, Office of the Prime Minister, Kosova.  The panel discussion was made of Klevis Jahaj, General Director, National Agency for Water Supply, Sewerage and Waste Infrastructure, Albania; Ndriçim Shani, Chair of National Regulatory Commission, Water Regulatory Authority, Albania; Afrim Lajçi, Advisor, Inter-Ministerial Water Council, Office of the Prime Minister, Kosova; Camilo Lombana Cordoba, Senior Water and Sanitation Specialist, World Bank Group, United States of America; Hajrie Morina, Director, Water Service Regulatory Authority, Kosova; Elisabeta Poçi, SHUKALB.

“Organizational and Structural Management” and “Integrated Asset Management” were the last sessions that concluded the first working day of the Conference.

The second working day of the Conference, 10^th of November, was opened with the welcome address by Abdullah Derguti, Executive Director of SHUKOS who after a quick review of the day before and the welcome of participants on the last day of the conference invited Getoar Mjeku, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Economy, Kosova to deliver a greeting speech.

The Conference continued with two keynote speeches, Prof. Hamanth Kasan, Vice President, International Water Association, IWA, South Africa, on “Water and Wastewater Services in Uncertain Times: Dealing with the Global Crisis” and Moritz Remé, Director KfW Office Kosova and North Macedonia, KfW Development Bank, Kosova, on “Building Resilience of Kosova’s Water Sector – An Integrated Approach”.

The third Plenary Session, “Water and Wastewater Services in Uncertain Times: Dealing with the Global Crisis” was moderated by Premtim Islami, KfW Office, Kosova. To discuss this theme, the invited panelists were Klevis Jahaj, General Director, National Agency for Water Supply, Sewerage and Waste Infrastructure, Albania; Adem Ahmetaj, Policy and Monitoring Unit for Public Enterprises, Ministry of Economy, Kosova; Evis Gjebrea, Deputy General Director, Tirana Water Supply and Sewerage Company, Albania; Bashkim Kurti, Chief Executive Officer, Regional Water Company Mitrovica; Gábor Brandstätter, International Business Development Director, Budapest Waterworks, Hungary and Dr. Katerina Schilling, Head of Secretariat, International Association of Water Service Companies, IAWD, Austria.

The program continued with the parallel sessions dedicated to “Energy Crisis: Challenges and Mitigation”; “Wastewater Management I” and “Water Utilities Management I”; “Wastewater Management II”.

The final Plenary Session “Circular Economy in the Context of Wastewater” was moderated by Prof. Asoc. Dr. Enkelejda Gjinali, Polytechnic University of Tirana, Albania.  To discuss this theme, the invited panelists were Petrit Tare, Korçë Regional Water and Sewerage Company, Albania; Leonat Muskollari, Advisor for Water and Sanitation, Water Program, GIZ Albania; Arbana Kola, Project Manager, SHUKALB, Albania; and Lorik Dervishaj, Engineer, Strabag Ag, Kosova.

The Conference program ended with the two last Parallel Sessions on “Water Utilities Management II” and “Drinking Water Quality”.

Technical Exhibition

Participants at the Conference had the opportunity to visit the Technical Exhibition which officially opened on the 8^th of November, after the Gala Reception, and continued for two days in parallel with the Technical Program on the 9^th and 10^th of November.  The Exhibition attracted 23 private companies coming from 10 different countries from the Balkan region, Europe, as well as Israel, which showcased their very latest products, from pipes, pumps, meters, software to engineering and management services.

As it has been a tradition at the Exhibition, SHUKALB and SHUKOS organized a joint booth, situated close to the entrance of the Exhibition hall, where participants had the opportunity to get information regarding the respective activities of each Association, as well as the joint initiatives.

SHUKALB and SHUKOS wish to thank the organizations and companies who supported the organization of the 10^th Balkans Joint Conference and Exhibition, in particular the Budapest Water Works and Emerald Hotel.

The presentations presented during the three days of the conference, as well as some photos of the event may be accessed in the links below:

• Presentations
• Conference and Exhibition Photos