Kosovo could end only in region without gas access

The rejection the government made to this project sparked debate in Kosovo after opposition parties said an American project of strategic interest to the country is being rejected.

The project for the construction of gas infrastructure with northern Macedonia, according to the Government of Kosovo was provided with support from the American agency, the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), with loans from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (BERZH) and the Investment Frame for the Western Balkans (WBIF).

The cost of building this gas pipeline network, as well as a gas power generation plant, according to the government, was envisioned to cost about 600m euros.

Although Kosovo is not involved in any other gas project, the government said building this project was not economically favourable, so it decided to withdraw.

What did Kosovo refuse?

One of the challenges of many European governments in the coming years is to be energy security, as well as access to more energy sources.

For this reason, in 2003, construction of a natural gas network project known as the Trans-Adriatic Gas pipeline (TAP) had received support.

Construction of the TAP project began in 2016. Gas pipeline pipelines start at Shah Deniz II field in Azerbaijan, cross north of Greece, then a significant part of Albania's territory from which they come under the Adriatic Sea to re-face in southern Italy.

There, gas pipelines TAP is linked to the Italian natural gas network.

From where gas pipelines start in Azerbaijan to Italy TAP, they travel some 3,000 kilometers [3,000 km] of roads.

For the first time in late 2020, after much preparation and testing, TAP pipelines began to flow liquid gas that reached Italy early in January.

This project had received great support from European Union institutions, naming it “the project of joint interests”.

European institutions support the Trans-Adriatic Gas pipeline, as they see it as a real opportunity to improve energy security and gas diversification of European markets, which are largely dominated by Russian gas.

Russia covers over 43 percent of the European gas market.

In addition, one of the EU's goals is to reduce carbon emissions to maximum from coal-polluting thermal power plants and other forms of environmental pollution.

Natural gas is considered one of the cleanest fuels with minimal emissions of pollution.

Gas pipeline The TAP in the future is expected to supply natural gas to the countries of the region, including North Macedonia, which has already signed an agreement with Greece for the construction of a gas storage facility.

Later, Albania is expected to key, a country that has already conducted feasibility studies and is working on building the gas network within the state.

After the extension of gas tubes in northern Macedonia, governments in Kosovo had planned to build the gas pipeline network to connect with this state.

This would enable Kosovo to buy amounts of gas in the future from the Trans-Adriatic Gas pipeline.

Not to be entirely dependent on Russian gas, Bulgaria launched construction of the 182km-long gas infrastructure in Greece.

The project was meant to be completed by the end of 2020, but there have been delays and is expected to be operational in June 2022.

Serbia is completely dependent on Russian gas, and eventually the president of Serbia, Aleksandar Vuciq, officially inaugurated a new Russian gas line passing through Turkey and Bulgaria, aimed at bringing more Russian gas to the Balkans”.

This, Serbia did contrary to the American recommendation to reduce dependence on Russian gas.

According to experts from the region, what would Kosovo benefit?

For what Kosovo would benefit if it is key to the TAP gas pipeline through northern Macedonia, Radio Free Europe has spoken with the professor of the Faculty of Machine in Skopje, Konstantin Dimitrov.

Dimitrov, who also runs the Energy Efficiency Centre, says it would be important for Kosovo to connect with the TAP pipeline.

His benefits would be cheaper energy and lower pollution.

“is a unique option. Gas plants operate with higher efficiency, with less emissions of pollutants, and the result is cheaper energy”, Dimitrov tells Radio Free Europe.

Professor Dimitrov says the gas benefits many sectors.

“The production of electricity during the transition period from coal to green society (altered society). In the second order industry, and in third place, but very important, the” environment, he says.

Dimitrov says Kosovo's refusal to build the gas pipeline infrastructure with Northern Macedonia could be linked to other interests, as is the construction of a gas infrastructure to be connected to Albania.

Albania, in addition to the Trans-Adriatic Gas pipelines, has other gas projects -- one that is designed to connect Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina and the main partner in this project, Croatia.

This project is known as the Adriatic-Jonian Gas pipeline (IAP) and will have a length of 516 km. It starts in the town of Fier in Albania, where it connects with the TAP pipeline, and ends up in the city of Split in Croatia, from money for gas to go to other European countries.

Is Kosovo's connection to TAP possible through Albania?

Gary Selenica, who heads the Albanian Centre for Strategic Studies, tells Radio Free Europe that Kosovo has decided directly when it has refused to build the pipeline project with Northern Macedonia.

He says the best strategic solution would have to be Kosovo's connection to the TAP gas pipeline through Albania.

“Strategic for us is that gas pipeline The TAP that has come here (to Albania), to connect, is the Alkogas project, which the EU has financed. The feasibility study is ready and let it connect with Kosovo, much later Albania and will produce its own gas, and Kosovo can produce its own gas. Technology can come to be “syngas” (artificially produced)”, says Selenica.

According to Selenica, the failure to make gas pipeline from Northern Macedonia has nothing to do with violating American interests.

It's not an American project at all. It is a project the Greek lobby has sponsored at the Department of Energy in America, which now let us collect gas from Greece and supply the entire Balkans”, says Selenica.

What is natural gas used for?

The liquid natural gas is used in various industries. The commercial sector uses natural gas to heat buildings and water, cook, dry clothes, and provide outside lighting.

In some sectors natural gas is used as fuel in combined heating and energy systems.

Gas is also primary in many countries, which, through thermal power, produce electricity.

In Germany, for example, most of the gas is currently used in the industrial sector as energy and heating supplies, or chemical processes, followed by private families including heat and cooking.

Who, how much does the gas generate?

States through which liquid natural gas passes through the Trans-Adriatic Gas pipeline use gas in various sectors.

Azerbaijan, where this gas comes from, about 70 percent of the energy produced by natural gas.

About 50 percent of Turkey's energy is produced from natural gas, 28 percent from coal, 19 percent from hydropower plants, 3 percent from liquid fuels, and the rest from renewable sources.

In Albania, much of the energy is produced by hydro power plants, while in northern Macedonia, destructive parts are produced by coal.

In Italy, more than 30 percent of energy is produced by natural gas burning.

How did the government reason the withdrawal?

Kosovo Economy Minister Artane Rizvanolli explained some of the reasons why it was not in Kosovo's interest to build the gas network with Northern Macedonia.

Among the main reasons, according to her, was the fact that local and international experts had estimated that the use of gas for energy production for basic demand is not economically favourable.

If construction of a gas power-generating power plant was established, then according to the Government of Kosovo, the production of an electric power megawatt would be 40 euros, which is about 30 percent more expensive than the current price. The Kosovo Energy Corporation currently produces a megawatt at a price of about 30 euros.

According to Minister Rizvanolli, if the gas were used for energy production, the price of electricity for consumers would eventually increase by twice as much.

The Kosovo government said that after meeting with some of the investors, many were not interested in investing in this project anymore, and others had set unfavourable conditions for Kosovo. / REL/