A one-day International Forum held in Tirana, Albania on January 31^st assessed the progress of market reforms and market integration among countries in the region.  The forum -- "Albania Power Exchange as Part of the Liberalization Policies and Integration in the Regional Market of Energy" -- was organized by the Albanian Ministry for Energy and Industry and the Albanian Association of Industry and Energy.

Electricity market cooperation between Kosovo and Albania will impact the development of both countries and will create mutual benefits in terms of securing the electricity supply and diversifying generation.  It will also bring financial benefits.  USAID/Kosovo and USAID/Albania gave presentations on USAID’s assistance and support in advancing power-market reforms and development as well as market integration between the two countries. The USAID Repower representative presented on the next steps that will facilitate Kosovo's participation in the Albania Power Exchange, a key step in the first phase of market integration.

Several relevant stakeholders to this issue participated, including the Albanian Minister for Energy and Industry, Kosovo’s Deputy Minister for Economic Development, the Energy Community Secretariat, and the Norwegian consulting company Nordpool.