TIRANA, July 3 – The European Union has given financial backing for the construction of the new 400 kV interconnection line between Albania and Macedonia, according to the Albanian Energy and Industry Ministry.
News of the funding became public last week at the meeting between the energy ministers of Albania, Macedonia, Bosnia, Kosovo and Montenegro — which also had the presence of the EU Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn.
Its construction is expected to start next year, when Albania also completes a similar connection line with neighboring Kosovo.
The new line will increase Albania’s cross-border electricity transmission capacities, allowing it greater access to the regional electricity market at a time when most countries in the Western Balkans produce energy from coal.
Albania’s main power production comes from hydro-power stations, mainly at the Drini River.
The six western Balkan countries pledged to continue work on the creation of a power regional market.
They said they will update the list of the projects in this industry in 2016 trying to complete the creation of an independent open, competitive and regulatory market, a good step toward the integration with the European Union.
