The American Chamber of Commerce in Kosovo (AmCham Kosovo) has reiterated its major concerns about the risks posed by the current form of energy market liberalization, warning that it directly threatens business stability, jobs, and Kosovo’s long-term competitiveness.
In a strong statement, AmCham Kosovo emphasized that although liberalization should ideally be a welcomed goal, the lack of real market conditions undermines its success.
“In Kosovo, despite multiple licensed suppliers, only one is fully operational, leaving businesses without effective choices and exposed to electricity price increases exceeding 200%. This is not a competitive market, but a premature transition that imposes an immediate financial shock on businesses already facing wider economic pressures,” the statement reads.
The risk of thousands of jobs being lost, especially in energy-intensive industries, is a key concern.
“Kosovo’s complete dependence on electricity, without access to alternative energy sources like natural gas, makes this transition unstable and unsuitable compared to regional liberalization models,” AmCham added, stressing that a three-month notice without transitional support is unacceptable.
Additionally, the absence of a functional Parliament further complicates the process by undermining institutional accountability and raising serious questions about the legitimacy of implementing such a major change without proper oversight.
AmCham calls on the Energy Regulatory Office to:
- Postpone the June 1 deadline;
- Create the necessary regulatory, technical, and market conditions for a truly competitive and sustainable liberalization.
Starting June 1, all companies with more than 50 employees or with turnover above 10 million euros will be required to choose their own electricity suppliers — a move strongly opposed by businesses, who say they are not yet ready.
