The American Chamber of Commerce in Kosovo called on the new institutions in the country, which are in the process of being formed, to prioritize Kosovo's inclusion in the regional US liquefied natural gas (LNG) infrastructure. In a statement sent to the media, the American Chamber assessed that Kosovo is at "a crucial moment" for the future of the energy sector, emphasizing that the decisions that will be made in the coming months and years will affect energy security, the competitiveness of the economy and the country's ability to respond to the needs of a developing economy.
According to her, the discussion on energy policies should not be limited only to the initial investment costs, but should also take into account "the speed of project implementation, security of supply, the possibility of securing financing, the impact on the competitiveness of the economy, the flexibility of the electricity system and the long-term sustainability of investments."
The American Chamber emphasizes that, for a country that continues to rely on outdated production capacities and significant imports of electricity, the timing of the construction of new capacities is a strategic factor, informs REL.
"Each year of delay in creating new domestic capacities means continued exposure to the instability of regional markets, high import costs and supply uncertainty," the statement said.
The debate on the direction of energy policy
This is not the first time that the American Chamber of Commerce has called for Kosovo to join the US liquefied natural gas initiative. On several occasions, it has argued that Kosovo's inclusion in the project's regional infrastructure would increase energy security, diversify supply sources and make the country more attractive for investment.
The debate has intensified after the chargé d'affaires at the US Embassy in Pristina, Anu Prattipati, published an opinion piece in early June, calling on Kosovo to enter into a long-term energy partnership with the United States through American liquefied natural gas.
Prattipati said that Kosovo is the only country in the Western Balkans that is not included in projects that expand US energy influence in the region. Prattipati repeated a similar call last week.
The government insists on coal gasification
The incumbent government of Kosovo has consistently defended the idea that the priority for Kosovo should be the gasification of domestic coal, rather than inclusion in the regional American liquefied natural gas network.
According to the acting Minister of Economy, Artane Rizvanolli, Kosovo does not oppose the use of American LNG, but currently, it has neither the infrastructure nor the necessary experience to be supplied with it.
For this reason, she has argued that exploiting large coal reserves through gasification technology is the most suitable alternative for the country.
However, a different approach has been supported by opposition parties in Kosovo, who have called for Kosovo to join the American LNG initiative, assessing that hesitation in this regard could damage the strategic partnership with the United States.
Several Western Balkan countries, including Albania, Croatia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, have already signed agreements with American companies and the United States to expand gas infrastructure. In an interview with Radio Free Europe on May 10, the US Department of Energy’s special envoy, Joshua Volz, said that “Kosovo’s energy system is in urgent need of modernization and represents an excellent opportunity for American industry and technology.”
He also assured that "the Department of Energy will be ready to help facilitate cooperation between American industry and industrial partners in Kosovo." Currently, about 90 percent of electricity in Kosovo is produced by two coal-fired power plants, "Kosova A" and "Kosova B," while the rest is provided through renewable sources and imports./REL
