The Southeast Europe Energy Forum 2022 gathered in Thessaloniki, Greece, the ministers of the countries of the region as well as the ambassadors of the United States of America in the Balkans.

The situation that the whole world is facing today regarding energy has placed this sector at the center of investments.

Also present, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Belinda Balluku, during her discussion at the energy forum, emphasized the need for cooperation between countries and the support of partners to face this crisis together.

"In 2019, we began to address intensive strategies to build new energy sources, with the construction of two photovoltaic parks, while we are at the end of the auction for wind parks, supported by the EBRD,” said Balluku.

“Also, one of the most important projects that we have already started is the Skavica hydropower plant, which will be the 4th HPP of our largest cascade in the north. The key role of Skavica, in addition to energy production, is the optimization of the cascade," said Balluku.

She also mentioned another important project, the liquefied gas power plant in Vlora, which will be the first non-renewable project in Albania, but a major contributor to energy security.

"This project was launched for local needs, but seeing the first signs of the crisis in September 2021, this project took on a regional dimension. We have a good cooperation with the US Department of Energy and I take the moment to thank the US Embassy in Albania for the support it has given us. They enabled us to make contact with prestigious American companies such as Excelerate Energy, which is working very closely with us for the project of the thermal power plant and the LNG terminal in Vlora,” added Balluku.

Also, Balluku highlighted the important exploration project of the Dutch company Shell, which can change the gas supply situation in the region, also contributing to energy security, which is Albania's key word until the end of 2030.

"We want to increase production capacity by 4 terawatts, which will contribute not only to making Albania a net exporter, but will help all neighboring countries," she said.

Also present in the forum, the American ambassador in Tirana, Yuri Kim, guaranteed that the USA is by Albania's side in the steps it is taking regarding energy projects.

While drawing attention to the project for the construction of the Skavica HPP, Kim said that Albania's energy future looks promising.

“Albania will most likely surprise all of us by adding to all this the increase in efforts to introduce and build wind and solar production capacities. These are efforts to integrate the regional market, and this is an effort that the USA is proud to support through regional energy projects," she added.

During the discussions at the forum, the importance of energy efficiency and the need for saving to cope with this crisis that has affected all countries was also underlined.