Prishtina, 05 June 2026, dtt-net.com – Kosovo’s energy supply is not keeping pace with rising demand. According to Customs data, Kosovo spent €735 million importing electricity from neighboring countries in the last four years, jumping from €142 million in 2024 to €259 million in 2025. As prices and demand continue to rise, Kosovo will be increasingly energy dependent on its neighbors for the foreseeable future.
To address these structural challenges, Kosovo should join U.S. natural gas projects planned across the Balkans. These projects can secure American energy resources for Kosovo. American liquified natural gas (LNG) would diversify Kosovo’s energy supply, complement Kosovo’s domestic energy sources, and add another link to the growing U.S-Kosovo economic partnership.
U.S. Department of Energy Special Envoy for Energy Integration Joshua Volz explained recently, “The energy system in Kosovo is in urgent need of modernization and represents a great opportunity for American industry and technology… and the Department of Energy will stand ready to help facilitate cooperation between U.S. industry and industrial partners in Kosovo.”
In today’s world, energy security is national security, and energy diversification through natural gas is essential to achieving a secure future. Natural gas power plants provide the ability to better meet surges in demand and stabilize prices during peak periods. Expanding domestic electricity production beyond national demand would improve energy independence and shield consumers from external price shocks.
Kosovo must move quickly to pursue this partnership because building the necessary infrastructure will take time. U.S. LNG exports are expected to double by 2030 and will flow through regional projects such as the Vertical Gas Corridor and the floating natural gas terminal in Croatia. Kosovo could also connect to the natural gas pipeline being constructed to link the LNG terminal in Alexandroupolis, Greece to nearby Skopje, North Macedonia.
Connecting to an already planned pipeline project would shorten the timeline and lower costs. The United States Government also has financing mechanisms available to build natural gas infrastructure. Kosovo can work with regional partners to secure long-term contracts and economies of scale at more competitive prices.
The window for joining these projects is closing. Delaying this decision risks American LNG supplies being committed elsewhere and could leave Kosovo as the only Western Balkans country without access to American LNG. History cannot stand in the way of decisions that will benefit Kosovo’s people today and into the future.
Kosovo now faces an important strategic choice. The Trump Administration has made reducing Europe’s reliance on Russian energy a top priority. We urge Kosovo to join a long-term energy partnership with America through LNG to secure its energy future. Together, we can bolster energy security and grow our economies side by side.
Anu Prattipati is Chargé d’affaires at the USA Embassy in Kosovo.
This opinion was published first at USA Embassy’s website.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of dtt-net.com.