Agreement between Kosovo and Albania on ancillary services/secondary regulation expected soon

Prishtina, 20 Nov – Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Besa Zogaj-Gashi, met today with Deputy Minister of Energy and Industry of Albania, Ilir Bejtja, and the first advisor on energy, Entela Çipa, to discuss on an agreement for the provision of ancillary services (secondary regulation) between two countries. This process is of great significance for KOSTT’s membership in ENTSO-E, and the existing infrastructure was positively tested by operators of two countries – KOSTT and OSTT KESH. Deputy Ministers Gashi and Bejtja agreed that functionalization of this project requires the execution of a commercial agreement between KOSTT and OST.

Gashi informed that MED has submitted an official request to the Ministry of Industry on the execution of a memorandum which would enable the establishment of commercial relations between operators.

Another item of discussion in the meeting was the 400kV interconnection line, respectively its development in the Kosovo, which is expected to end in the beginning of next month. The infrastructure for secondary regulation is also envisaged in the interconnection line.

Other topics include the electricity exchange, a request of the Energy Community, as the establishment of energy exchanges in all member states was also sanctioned in the Western Balkans Prime Ministers’ Summit in Vienna.

“It is in Kosovo’s interest to join the process/exchange. MED supports Kosovo operators’ affiliation with the exchange, and will review the legal framework so as to enable such affiliation. KOSTT has also expressed its readiness to be one of the co-founders/shareholders of this exchange,” said Deputy-Minister Gashi during the meeting.

Deputy-Minister Gashi said that Kosovo is expecting to sign the agreement on construction of TPP Kosova e Re with American company Contour Global, expected to generate a net capacity of 450MW, therefore, it would be useful to review cooperation opportunities between two countries, including the establishment of a common electricity market.

Otherwise, both Deputy-Ministers agreed that cooperation should be continued and that opportunities should be reviewed on how to formalize said agreement through accelerated procedures. This step is considered a step forward in the fulfillment of Energy Community Treaty requirements.