Prishtina, 8 July 2026
Honourable Ms. Artane Rizvanolli, Minister of Economy,
Honourable Mr. Ymer Fejzullahu, Chairman of the Board of the Energy Regulatory Office,
Honourable Mr. Gëzim Tosuni, Chairman of the Board of KOSTT,
Honourable Mr. Trim Tërnava, Chief Executive Officer of KOSTT,
Distinguished representatives and leaders of state institutions,
Your Excellencies, ambassadors and representatives of friendly states in our Republic,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is a special pleasure to be together today to mark the 20th anniversary of the establishment of KOSTT, the Transmission, System and Market Operator. You have turned twenty years old, which means that you are still young, but now also experienced.
All of the achievements presented to us in the introductory video were impressive for the present and certainly promising for the future, and therefore congratulations to all of you.
The establishment of KOSTT in 2006 represented a decisive moment in the reform and modernization of Kosovo’s energy sector. It marked the beginning of building an independent, professional and reliable institution with essential responsibilities for the security of the electricity system, the functioning of the electricity market and the integration of Kosovo’s system into regional and European systems.
Today, twenty years later, we can say that KOSTT is one of the success stories among the state institutions of the Republic of Kosovo.
During these two decades, significant investments have been made in transmission lines, transformers, new substations, control and monitoring systems, telecommunications, metering and protection systems. These investments have increased network capacities, improved the security of supply and created the conditions for the economic and industrial development of our country. The importance of these investments becomes even clearer when we look at the growth in electricity demand in Kosovo.
The transmission network is not merely a technical matter. It is a prerequisite for energy security, business expansion, attracting new investments and improving the well-being of our citizens.
Recent years have been particularly important for strengthening Kosovo’s energy independence.
In 2020, the entry into force of the new Connection Agreement with ENTSO-E and the beginning of KOSTT’s operation as an independent regulatory area, followed immediately two months later by operation within the Kosovo–Albania Regulatory Block, represented a historic achievement for our country.
These developments enabled Kosovo to operate independently within the European electricity system and paved the way for even deeper energy cooperation between Kosovo and Albania.
Another important step was the establishment of the ALPEX by KOSTT and OST of Albania.
The operationalization of the Day-Ahead Market and the coupling of the Kosovo and Albania electricity markets have created the conditions for a more competitive, transparent and integrated electricity market.
The results so far demonstrate a continuous increase in activity and confidence among market participants.
During 2024, a total volume of 1,172 GWh of electricity was traded in the Day-Ahead Market.
In 2025, the traded volume increased to 1,670 GWh, representing an increase of approximately 42.6 per cent compared to 2024.
This positive trend has accelerated further during 2026. During the first half of this year alone, the traded volume reached 1,180 GWh, or 75.2 per cent more than during the first half of 2025.
Distinguished participants, these figures demonstrate that the common market between Kosovo and Albania is consolidating, increasing liquidity and becoming an important mechanism for the transparent and efficient trading of electricity.
The operationalization of the Intraday Auction Market for Kosovo’s bidding zone and its integration with Albania have created additional opportunities for market participants to adjust their positions closer to real time.
These developments demonstrate that cooperation between Kosovo and Albania in the energy sector is not merely a political commitment. It is a concrete and measurable process that practically enhances security of supply, improves competition and creates economic benefits for citizens and businesses in both our countries.
In the context of these developments, KOSTT’s assumption of operational control over the Vallaç Substation represents an important milestone in consolidating the unified functioning of Kosovo’s electricity system. This step has strengthened operational control over the transmission network, increased system security and reliability, and contributed to the full extension of KOSTT’s operations throughout the entire territory of the Republic of Kosovo.
At the same time, Kosovo is now entering a new phase of the energy transition. The integration of renewable energy sources, the construction of new solar and wind capacities, the installation of battery energy storage systems, and the modernization and rehabilitation of existing generation capacities that provide baseload supply will transform the way we produce, transmit and consume energy.
The agreement for the installation of battery energy storage systems represents a major step towards increasing system flexibility, improving balancing capabilities and integrating new renewable energy capacities.
The Government of the Republic of Kosovo remains committed to supporting KOSTT in the further modernization and expansion of the transmission network. In the years ahead, the priority must remain the construction of a stronger, more flexible and smarter network.
Likewise, regional integration will remain one of our strategic objectives. The development of new interconnections with neighboring countries and the full integration of Kosovo’s market into regional and European energy markets are essential for the country’s energy security and economic development.
KOSTT is not merely a network of transmission lines, transformers and substations. Above all, KOSTT is an institution built and advanced by its people — by many of you who work at KOSTT and who are here today celebrating this anniversary. Therefore, on this anniversary, I wish to express my gratitude to KOSTT as an organization of dedicated professionals, and to all current and former employees of KOSTT — engineers, operators, technicians and administrative professionals — who for twenty years have contributed to the safe operation of Kosovo’s electricity system.
I also thank our international partners, financial institutions, transmission system operators of partner countries and all organisations that have supported KOSTT’s development and Kosovo’s energy integration.
Congratulations on KOSTT’s 20th anniversary! I wish you many more decades of new successes.
Thank you for the invitation and for your attention!