Glogovac, Kosovo

Drenas or Gllogovc/Gllogoc ( sq-definite, Drenasi or ''Gllogovci/Gllogoci'') or Glogovac ( sr-Cyrl, Глоговац) is a town and municipality in the District of Pristina in Kosovo. The municipality has an area of . According to the last census of 2024, the municipality has a population of 48,079.

History

The municipality was established before World War II as a distinct social, political, and administrative unit. Over the past eighty years, economic development has been very limited, as previous governments, directed from the central authorities of Yugoslavia, largely neglected the municipality.

Historically, Drenas was focused on extensive agricultural development. In the 1970s, the first initiatives for economic development in Drenas began to emerge. These efforts were accompanied by urban spatial development as well.

In 1981, the settlement of Drenas was officially declared a town, becoming the main administrative, cultural, social, and municipal center of the area.

Before and during the Kosovo War (1998–1999), the ethnic Albanian separatist organization, the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), held significant influence and managed to control large parts of the municipality. Drenas as part of the Drenica region, the municipality was heavily affected by the conflict. During the war, forces of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia were responsible for several massacres in the area. Mass graves were later exhumed in an attempt to conceal crimes.

Geography

Drenas municipality is located in central Kosovo, between the Čičavica mountains in the east and the Drenica hills in the north and west. The main road from Pristina to Peja crosses the municipality. At a junction at Komorani village, a smaller road extends north from the highway, passing through Drenas town and continuing to Skenderaj.

Climate

Drenas has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa) as of the Köppen climate classification with an average annual temperature of . The warmest month in Drenas is August with an average temperature of , while the coldest month is January with an average temperature of .

Demography

According to the last census of 2024 of the Kosovo Agency of Statistics, the municipality has a population of 48,079. The overwhelming majority of the population is Albanian (99.91%).

Economy

Ferronikeli mine and smelter operation provided jobs for more than 2,000 people at the peak of its production in 1988. As of 2019, it was "the largest exporter in Kosovo, accounting for about 40% of the country's exports". While the presence of significant ore deposits was noticed as long ago as 1958, the plant was commissioned in 1984 while the Socialist FRY was in power. The deposits are of the lateritic type. Heavy damages were inflicted on the facility during the 1999 conflict, leaving it inoperable. Ferronikeli was privatised after the war by Alferon Management. Since July 2018 the most recent owners are called Balfin Group, who took over the project after it had been idle for four months. The plant contributes to the infrastructure of the municipality with power, including water supply and an electric grid. Four nickel mines operate in the region: Čikatovo, Dushkaja, Gllavica and Suke.

Two quarries at Korroticë e Ulët and Çikatovë e Vjeter have become operational since the conflict.

A major development is the building of the Trade Centre, which was completed by mid-2004. The municipality played a central role in the whole process by co-ordinating the financing, construction and management of the project. The Trade Centre contains 134 shops and offices for small businesses.

Infrastructure

Since 2000, there has been a gradual improvement in economic, agricultural, educational, medical and industrial growth. Municipal development has affected the construction of network-educational system, health and service network intensifying agricultural development has become especially after the construction of the irrigation system "Iber Lepenci", while a positive movement for the economy is marked by Ferronikeli, a local mining and smelting operation.

In 1936 the railway from Prishtinë to Peja was completed, which passed through the town of Drenas.

Media

There are two Radio Stations, " 92.1 Capital FM" broadcasting on a regional coverage, and "Radio Dodona" of which at the moment is not operating for unknown reasons, and there is a local TV station "Star TV" broadcasting on cable only.

Sports

*KF Feronikeli
* KB Feronikeli
*KFF Feronikeli

Notable people

* Izet Ibrahimi – Former Mayor of Drenas, Phd of Metallurgy
* Jakup Krasniqi – Former Chairman of the Assembly of Kosovo
* Rifat Kukaj – Notable Poet, Writer for Children
* Iljaz Prokshi – Novelist
* Rainer Wieland – Vice President of the European Parliament, honorary citizen of Drenas
* Herolind Shala (born 1992), Albanian footballer, born in Norway, international player for Kosovo.
* Fehmi Lladrovci – KLA commander
* Besim Mala - KLA commander and Kosovo Protection Corps commander
* Rasim Kiçina - KLA commander

References

External links

Municipality of Drenas
fficial Website

{{DEFAULTSORT:Drenas

Municipalities of Kosovo
Cities in Kosovo
Drenica
Populated places in Pristina District