TIRANA, March 31 – As the Tirana-Prishtina interconnection line is on track to finish by mid-2016, Albania and Kosovo have stepped up efforts to integrate their energy markets into a joint power exchange. The project would considerably diversify energy resources for both Kosovo which relies on lignite-fired power plants and Albania’s hydro-dependant electricity system.
The initiative was confirmed this week in Tirana in a meeting between Albanian Energy Minister Damian Gjiknuri and Kosovo Economic Development Minister Blerand Stavileci.
The power exchange will enable transparent prices of the day-ahead market encouraging participation in power trade by both countries, said a memorandum signed by the two countries.
The Albanian and Kosovo electricity transmission operators have committed to cooperate to ease the integration of Albania’s power exchange with regional power exchanges by making available their interconnection capacities.
“We target conducting feasibility studies to create joint electricity generation capacities. This means that in the frame of a joint market, Albania and Kosovo could invest in a joint thermal power plant,” said Albanian Energy Minister Gjiknuri.
“I believe this is a good opportunity to harmonise Kosovo’s lignite-powered resources and Albania’s hydro resources,” added Gjiknuri.
Albania and Kosovo have also applied to receive EU funding to conduct a feasibility study on connecting Kosovo to the already under construction Trans Adriatic Pipeline bringing Caspian gas to Europe through Albania.
The Kosovo minister described the joint initiatives as key to the energy security of both Albania and Kosovo.
“This means all Albanian consumers, be they in Kosovo and Albania will have greater energy security, cheaper electricity prices and a bigger development potential,” said minister Stavileci.
A U.S. company is planning to build a 660 MW coal-fired plant in Kosovo in a major Euro 1.4 billion investment.
Energy Minister Gjiknuri announced the Albania- Kosovo interconnection is on track to finish by next June.
The KfW-funded €28 mln project linking Albania to Kosovo would complete Albania’s connection to its neighbours, after the completion of the 400 kw Tirana- Podgorica interconnection line, linking Albania to Montenegro.
Kosovo has emerged as Albania’s second largest trading partner for exports after the construction of the Highway of Nation in 2009 cutting travel time between the two countries. Ethnic Albanian Kosovar also account for almost half of total foreign tourists to Albania, in what is known as ‘patriotic tourism.’
