Kosovo from Monday has joined Albania’s energy bloc, after it began independent power operations from the SMM regulatory bloc (Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia). The news came as the Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama visited yesterday the Transmission System Operator in Albania, where he inaugurated a 400kW power line which connects the grids of Kosovo and Albania. For the Prime Minister Rama, this was “a historical success”, that was delayed after the veto imposed by Serbia in the past, but that was made possible thanks to the mini Schengen project.
Kosovo’s energy independence is a result of the agreement the Transmission System Operator of Kosovo (KOSTT) signed with the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity. For the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Avdullah Hoti, “the energetic independence is a mutual success of Kosovo and the international partners.” At the other hand, the Executive Head of KOSTT Ilir Shala, has accused Serbia for illegally using Kosovo’s network from 2008 to 2019, benefiting around €65 million, as Radio Free Europe reports. According to Shala, the gains by the new collaboration between Albania and Kosovo will be significant for both the transmission operators. It is expected that the agreement will save Albania €1.4 million annually, while the savings for Kosovo will be around €2.6 million annually.
