Natural resources of Kosovo

Kosovo is mainly rich in lignite and mineral resources such as: coal, zinc, lead, silver and chromium, but also with productive agricultural land.

Among these natural resources that were previously important in the Kosovo economy were minerals and metals such as: lignite, aluminum, chrome, magnesium, nickel, lead, zinc, and several different construction materials.

Due its enormous importance, it was also highly protected and was the last city to fall in the hands of the Ottomans during the invasion in the 15th century.

[10] Data from 1931 to 1998 show that total production by the industrial complex Trepça during this time was: From 1922 up to 2004, cumulative exploitation of lignite reserves amounted to 265Mt.

[7] However, from September 2005 to the latest data in 2007, Trepça only produced lead, zinc and copper at an average of 5,000 tons per month.

[5] Although these mines present a good opportunity for investment, their privatization has been difficult due to ownership issues.

[12] This high plant diversity in Kosovo represents a valuable natural resource, especially considering its low surface area.

Although little attention has been given to these resources, the data collected thus far shows that there are around 30 sources of thermal and mineral water in Kosovo.

Although these sources of water are suitable also for thermal power generation, they are mainly used for healing and recreational purposes.

These thermal and mineral water sources in Kosovo have in their composition also hydrocarbons, sulfates, magnesium and calcium.

The main fish species found in Kosovo are: trout, catfish, luce, perch, roach, sneep etc.

[17] Kosovo's main mineral resources are: lead, zinc, silver, nickel, cobalt, chrome, lignite, copper, bauxite, magnesium, iron, and several industrial minerals such as: kaolin, bentonite, quartz, halloysite, diatomite, garnet, asbestos and leucites.

[11] Estimations amount to a worth of over 1 billion dollars of reserves of lead, zinc, silver, manganese, nickel and boron.

Artana is calculated to contain 9 million tons of ore, with an average content of 2.5% Zn (zinc), 2.3% Pb (lead) and 92 ppm Ag (silver).

While the three main minerals found in this deposit are lead, zinc and silver, other elements such as cadmium (Cd), bismuth (Bi), gold (Au) etc.

These minerals contain rare metals such as: Ag, Au, Bi, Sb, Mn, Cu, Ge, Te, Ta and Se.

The processing of such metals has also developed in some regions of Kosovo, such as: processing of gold and silver in Prizren, in amounts of approximately 20 kg Au monthly and 1,000 kg Ag monthly, also the production of nickel-cadmium batteries in Prizren, at about 100 tons Cd per year.

[22] In Kosovo, there are only few chromium sources and they are spread in the regions of Brezovica, Gjakova, Luboten, Rahovec and Golesh.

[22] Gold in Kosovo is found accompanying copper, lead, and zinc, as well as some clean reserves in alluvial rivers.

Artana is the source with the highest gold content in Kosovo, where deposits are estimated to be approximately 2,700 kg.

Its average chemical structure is: Although there are several areas in Kosovo rich in quartz, research on this mineral is not complete.

[22] Argil in Kosovo is found in several locations, such as: Gjakovë, Dardanë, Landovicë, Skënderaj, Klinë, Pejë, Viti, Ferizaj, Pristina and Podujeva.

[22] Overall, Kosovo possesses total kaolin reserves of approximately 15 million m3 mainly spread in four fields.

[22] Bentonite reserves in Kosovo are assessed to be at a total of 86 million tons, and they are mainly spread in seven mineral fields.

[22] Cement reserves in Kosovo are assessed to be at a total of 95 million tons, and they are spread in "Hani i Elezit".

[26] The coal in the Kosovo basin is of lignite type and its geological age is the Early Pontian P|1.

[27] There are two lead and zinc smelters in Trepča in Mitrovica, which are currently not operating because they were closed down during the UNMIK administration in 2000.

Nevertheless, there are many structural imbalances in this sector and although it constitutes a high portion of the exports, the industry is also heavily dependent upon imports.

Also, by establishing new enterprises in the mining and metals sector, Kosovo was able to decrease its current account deficit in 2011 by around 537 million Euros.

These figures align Kosovo among the countries which the World Bank evaluates as "mineral economies".