North Macedonia seeks to strengthen energy ties with US, including LNG supply

Minister of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources of North Macedonia Sanja Božinovska has met with Jarrod Agen, executive director of the US National Energy Dominance Council, to discuss energy security, the diversification of energy sources, and joint infrastructure projects. The talks in Washington DC covered US liquefied natural gas (LNG) and small modular reactors (SMRs), among other topics, according to Agen.

At the meeting, Božinovska and Agen exchanged views on enhancing bilateral cooperation in the energy sector, with a focus on energy security and the stability of supply, the diversification of energy sources, and strategic infrastructure projects of mutual interest, according to a statement from the Ministry of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources of North Macedonia.

Božinovska: North Macedonia is ready to deepen energy ties with the US

Minister Božinovska emphasized Skopje’s readiness to deepen cooperation and implement concrete initiatives, highlighting that the partnership with the United States represents a significant factor for the long-term stability and development of North Macedonia’s energy sector.

She said the two sides agreed there was clear potential to intensify cooperation, with a focus on projects that would contribute to economic development and energy security in both countries.

In February, the White House said that North Macedonia and the US had reached a trade agreement covering the procurement of LNG.

Agen: The talks covered LNG, SMRs, critical minerals, and grids

For his part, Agen said in a LinkedIn post that the topics discussed at the meeting included LNG, SMRs, critical minerals, and the electrical grid. There are plenty of opportunities to “focus on baseload power with great US companies” and strike long-term deals that could change the energy landscape of the region for decades, according to Agen, who is also Deputy Assistant to US President Donald Trump.

The US has already agreed to supply LNG to Western Balkan countries

In February, the US signed a joint statement with 12 countries of Central and Eastern Europe and the Balkans to enhance gas supply by facilitating access to US LNG and signing purchase contracts. The countries in question are Greece, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Moldova, Ukraine, Croatia, Lithuania, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.