Albania-Argent LNG regional terminal project

The Albanian government and US-based developer Argent LNG have signed a memorandum of understanding to evaluate the construction of a large-scale liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage and regasification terminal, potentially located in Vlorë.

The proposed facility is intended to have an annual capacity of approximately five million tons. Rather than focusing on domestic consumption, the project is designed to serve as a strategic regional energy security hub for the Western Balkans and Southeastern Europe, providing a flexible, non-Russian source of natural gas. The terminal is planned to integrate with existing and proposed infrastructure, including the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), the Ionian Adriatic Pipeline (IAP), and the Fier-Vlorë gas corridor.

However, the European Union has expressed concern regarding the potential for long-term energy dependence in the Western Balkans as countries like Albania, Kosovo, and Bosnia-Herzegovina show interest in developing infrastructure for large-scale US LNG imports. EU officials have questioned whether such projects align with the bloc’s long-term energy strategy and decarbonization goals, noting that massive LNG inflows could complicate the transition toward climate neutrality and renewable energy in regions with minimal domestic gas demand.