Prishtina, 24.05.2016 – Kosovo and Albania will soon sign a memorandum which will precede a joint feasibility study for joint generation capacities in the field of energy, so that both countries harmonize their sources in the energy area.  This was made known in the Expo Forum, with the topic “Main Projects, management of new models of strategic sectors Kosovo – Albania, Financial Alternatives in post-crisis periods”, held today in Tirana.

On this occasion, the Minister of Economic Development, Blerand Stavileci, said that energy, infrastructure and telecommunications, as three basic pillars of economic development of both countries, are moving towards harmonization, which will give a positive impulse to Kosovo and Albania economies, so that in the future they play an important role in the region.

Stavileci estimated that in the wake of the joint meeting of the two governments, concrete steps have been marked in the field of energy, such as 400 kV Interconnection line, TAP and the energy stock exchange, which will strongly influence the harmonization and strengthening of the economies of both countries.

He added that Kosovo is working hard to ensure that by spring next year it launches the largest energy project, the Kosova e Re Power Plant, which will ensure stable supply of energy.

The Economic Development Minister, reiterated that the European Union sees the countries of South East Europe, namely Kosovo and Albania, as part of larger projects in the region, in transport and energy. Therefore, according to him, the two countries can play a crucial role in the platform of common energy market in the region and beyond, which will attract investments, mentioning the gas project.

On the other hand, the Minister of Energy and Industry of Albania, Damian Gjiknuri, said that Albania is on the eve of the inauguration of the most important energy project of the two countries, the interconnection line, as a strategic project, which will impact the connection of the two economies.

“We are progressing towards a more advanced stage, which is the feasibility study on public-private partnerships, or extensive private capitals, in order to create new generation capacities based on Kosovo’s lignite”, said Gjiknuri, convinced that very soon the two countries will soon be an important energy factor in the Balkans and beyond.

He further said that Kosovo and Albania have applied for funding to further intensify joint energy projects, and added that Kosovo’s energy capacities are important for the energy balance of the two countries.

The Minister of Diaspora, Valon Murati, said the Albanian diaspora is interested to invest and that the two governments must engage the diaspora capacities to transform into a partner to strengthen the two economies.

George Buxhuku, Director General of Confindustria, said that the steps in which the two countries are progressing, despite the global crisis, are generating a restructuring of the two economies giving hope for the future of both countries.

Otherwise, ExpoForum was organized by the Ministry of Energy and Industry of Albania, in cooperation with the Federation of Industries of Albania – Confindustria and CDO Albania, and in addition to representatives of institutions from Kosovo and Albania, it was also attended by representatives of globally recognized companies in the energy sector.