ALPEX becomes nominated electricity market operator in Albania, Kosovo*

Kosovo* and Albania awarded the status of a nominated electricity market operator (NEMO) to the ALPEX exchange in both regulatory zones. It opens the way for day-ahead market coupling.

Seven years after the establishment of a 400 kV interconnector and following the launch this year of the Albanian Power Exchange – ALPEX in Albania, the bourse’s legal status is becoming complete both in Albania and Kosovo*.

At their second joint meeting, the boards of the Energy Regulatory Office (ERO) of Kosovo* and Energy Regulatory Authority (ERE) of Albania reviewed and approved ALPEX’s request to be designated as the nominated electricity market operator, NEMO, in both regulatory zones. The exchange’s operator pointed out after the gathering in Prishtina it was the prerequisite for the implementation of day-ahead market coupling.

The creation of a joint electricity market in Albania and Kosovo* was enabled with the construction of a high-voltage power line in 2016

Until agreeing with the European Network of Transmission System Operators – ENTSO-E in 2020 to become an independent regulatory zone within the AK block, Kosovo’s* transmission system operator KOSTT was within Serbia’s regulatory area, run by the country’s TSO EMS, in the SMM block (Serbia, Montenegro and North Macedonia).

The installation of the high-voltage power line in 2016 enabled Albania and Kosovo* to establish a joint electricity market.

ALPEX has a day-ahead platform. It is run by OST, Albania’s TSO, with a 57.25% share, and KOSTT, which owns the remaining stake.

Elsewhere in the Western Balkans, the North Macedonian domestic day-ahead power trading platform was launched in May, after Montenegro’s MEPX or BELEN. Serbia’s SEEPEX exchange is about to introduce an intraday electricity market.