Balkan energy security faces political scrutiny and infrastructure debates

Political tensions are rising in the Balkans regarding energy security and resource management. In Albania, journalist Artan Hoxha has accused former Energy Minister Belinda Balluku of personally intervening with police forces to obstruct Delvina Gas. The company had reportedly made significant investments in gas processing infrastructure before facing sudden interference.

In North Macedonia, the energy sector is a central point of political contention. The VMRO-DPMNE party has criticized the SDSM for allegedly mismanaging state energy assets and failing to invest in new capacities, citing audit reports of losses at the state-owned ESM. Meanwhile, the political party DOM has called for stricter regulations, arguing that large corporations are profiting from state natural resources like wind and solar while citizens face high fuel costs and inadequate electric vehicle infrastructure.

Strategically, North Macedonia is looking toward the Vertical Corridor to improve its energy resilience. While the country remains dependent on imports, participation in this regional corridor could provide more diverse supply routes and partners, potentially shifting the nation from an energy dead-end to a regional crossroads.