Prishtina, 04.03.2024 – The Day-Ahead Market of the Kosovo bidding zone market coupling of the Kosovo-Albania electricity markets within the Albanian Power Exchange – ALPEX, has become operational.

The Albanian Power Exchange – ALPEX, which became operational in Albania since March 2023, will contribute to a competitive market in Albania and Kosovo, and to find electricity at more favorable prices.

The ceremony held today in Prishtina was attended by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, Minister of Economy, Artane Rizvanolli, the Director of the USAID Mission in Kosovo, Eileen Devitt, the Director of ALPEX, Sokol Dishnica, and the Chief Executive Officer of KOSTT, Evetar Zeqiri.

On this occasion, Prime Minister Albin Kurti stated that the inauguration of ALPEX marks a historic moment for Kosovo’s energy sector and our commitment to economic cooperation with the Republic of Albania.

“In recent years, the energy crisis has made it clear that the energy sector, both in Europe and worldwide, has fundamentally changed. Deepening cross-border cooperation is one of the most successful ways to address the difficulties and challenges of the new realities in this sector”, stated Prime Minister Kurti.

Prime Minister Kurti also added that in recent years, especially during the summer, citizens and businesses in Albania have had an abundance of energy due to energy stored in Kosovo, while during the winter, citizens and businesses in Kosovo have been warmer thanks to the energy received from Albania.

Minister of Economy, Artane Rizvanolli, emphasized that today, as we inaugurate ALPEX, the importance of this exchange and the joint operation of the electricity market is difficult to be described in words, as it is multidimensional, and its impacts are not only immediate, but their power will be experienced in the years and decades to come.

Furthermore, Rizvanolli emphasized that from the numerous meetings held with potential investors in Renewable Energy Sources (RES) capacities in Europe and Kosovo, without exception, they all have a common question: where can I sell energy, one day ahead, and intraday, for balancing needs. Therefore, with the ALPEX becoming operational, we are fulfilling a condition that is crucial for attracting investments in our energy sector.

She also added that in the future, after the full integration of ALPEX with the markets of North Macedonia and Greece, agreements these signed in 2023, Kosovo and Albania together will be part of an important regional power block, with economic, political, and geopolitical significance.

Meanwhile, Eileen Devitt, the Director of the USAID Mission in Kosovo, emphasized that it is an honor to jointly celebrate this historic moment for the energy sector in Kosovo and thanked all stakeholders for their work, the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Kosovo, KOSTT, ERO, and other institutions.

“Furthermore, I would like to acknowledge that Kosovo is the first country in the region to implement a day-ahead market and market coupling simultaneously. This significant move highlights Kosovo’s commitment to efficiently modernize its energy infrastructure, opening the way for a competitive electricity market. Today, coupling of Albania with Kosovo represents an innovative achievement. This cooperation sets the presence for regional cooperation and integration in the energy sector. The United States through USAID is proud to provide continuous support for ALPEX and our joint commitment to advancing energy integration across the Western Balkans”, Devitt added.

Meanwhile, the CEO of KOSTT, Evetar Zeqiri, emphasized that this platform sets a new standard of operation in the energy sector, which will ensure more transparency and competition in the electricity market and will contribute to increasing the security of electricity supply, more efficient utilization of interconnection capacities, and it is expected that the price of electricity will decrease for citizens of both countries.

ALPEX is part of the reform undertaken by the Governments of Kosovo and Albania in reconstruction of the electricity sector, in accordance with the laws and government policies for the development of this sector. Within the framework of this cooperation, both countries recognize ALPEX as the only electricity exchange to organize, operate, and hold day-ahead and intraday market coupling between the electricity markets of Albania and Kosovo.