Bosnia and Croatia Advance Southern Gas Interconnection to Strengthen Regional Energy Security

Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia have formalized an intergovernmental agreement to advance the construction of the Southern Gas Interconnection, a strategic infrastructure project aimed at strengthening energy security and ensuring a more stable gas supply for Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The planned interconnection will provide Bosnia and Herzegovina with an alternative supply route via Croatia, reducing its current dependence on Russian natural gas delivered through Turkey, Bulgaria, and Serbia. By enabling access to new sources, the project is expected to significantly enhance supply resilience.

The agreement was signed in Dubrovnik during the Three Seas Initiative summit by Borjana Krišto, Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković.

The pipeline network will span multiple routes, including Split–Zagvozd in Croatia, extending into Bosnia and Herzegovina through Posušje, and continuing across key locations such as Tomislavgrad, Kupres, Bugojno, and Travnik. Additional शाखing routes will connect areas including Mostar, Livno, Jajce, Tuzla, and Čapljina, creating a comprehensive distribution network.

According to the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the project will diversify both supply routes and energy sources, contributing to greater energy independence. The pipeline is expected to be supplied with gas from the liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal on the Croatian island of Krk.

The signing ceremony was attended by US Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Vedran Lakić, Minister of Energy, Mining and Industry of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. US-based AAFS Infrastructure and Energy has been designated to manage the pipeline within Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Although the project has been under consideration for years, tangible progress accelerated recently. In January, authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina indicated that AAFS Infrastructure and Energy would receive a 30-year concession. Subsequently, in late February, twelve countries from Central and Eastern Europe and the Balkans, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, reached an agreement with the United States to strengthen cooperation on LNG supply.

The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the entity through which the pipeline will pass, recently adopted a special legal framework (lex specialis) designating the US firm as the project investor. This decision has drawn criticism from the European Union, which warned of potential consequences.

Borjana Krišto emphasized that Bosnia and Herzegovina occupies a strategic position at the crossroads of energy flows in Southeast Europe. She noted that, beyond being a consumer, the country has the potential to play an active role in developing a more secure and resilient regional energy system. She also highlighted the importance of transatlantic cooperation in accelerating investment and improving market integration.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković underscored that the agreement reinforces Croatia’s role as a regional energy hub, particularly by enabling the transport of gas from the Krk LNG terminal to Bosnia and Herzegovina. He also pointed to the broader significance of the Three Seas Initiative, which brings together 13 EU member states from Central and Eastern Europe to enhance connectivity between the Baltic, Black, and Adriatic seas, with a focus on infrastructure, transport, and energy integration.

April 29, 2026

by AEA in News

Aktor LNG USA–Albgaz Deal Signals Structural Shift in Western Balkans Gas Market

A landmark long-term gas supply agreement between Aktor LNG USA and Albania’s state-owned Albgaz marks a significant step in the transformation of Southeast Europe’s energy architecture, reinforcing both market diversification and geopolitical realignment.

The agreement, valued at approximately $6 billion, establishes a 20-year framework for the delivery of liquefied natural gas (LNG) sourced from the United States, with contracted volumes of around 1 billion cubic meters annually starting in 2030.

From Hydro Dependence to Gas Integration

For Albania, the deal represents a structural pivot away from near-total reliance on hydropower toward a more diversified energy mix. The introduction of long-term LNG supply contracts provides a stable foundation for baseload generation, system balancing, and regional trading capacity.

The agreement is not limited to commodity supply. It is complemented by a memorandum of understanding between Aktor Energy USA and the Albanian government to develop an integrated energy hub, including a planned gas-fired power plant with an estimated capacity of 380 MW.

This integrated approach reflects a broader transition strategy: linking fuel supply, infrastructure development, and power generation into a single investment framework.

Infrastructure First: Vlora and the Missing Gas System

A central component of the strategy is the planned development of LNG infrastructure in Vlora, which is expected to evolve into a key entry point for imported gas. Until domestic infrastructure is completed, supply will be routed through Greece, leveraging the Revythoussa LNG terminal and the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) for onward delivery into Albania.

This transitional routing underscores a critical reality: Albania’s gasification remains at an early stage, and the success of the agreement depends heavily on timely infrastructure deployment.

The Vlora energy hub concept—combining LNG import, regasification, and power generation—positions Albania not merely as a consumer, but as a potential transit and redistribution node for the Western Balkans.

The Vertical Gas Corridor: Strategic Context

The deal is embedded within the broader framework of the “Vertical Gas Corridor,” a US-backed initiative aimed at expanding north–south gas flows from Greece into Southeast and Central Europe.

According to Aktor leadership, the agreement is intended to unlock the corridor’s full potential, enabling the distribution of American LNG across multiple Balkan markets and reducing dependency on traditional supply routes.

The corridor concept is particularly relevant as Europe continues to recalibrate its gas supply strategy, with long-term LNG contracts increasingly viewed as essential for supply security beyond 2030.

Geopolitical and Market Implications

The presence of US and Greek stakeholders highlights the geopolitical dimension of the agreement. The United States is actively expanding its LNG footprint in Southeast Europe, using infrastructure and long-term contracts as instruments of strategic influence and market integration.

At the same time, Greece reinforces its role as a regional energy gateway, providing the initial infrastructure backbone for LNG imports and transmission into the Western Balkans.

The agreement also signals potential regional expansion. Discussions are already underway to extend LNG supply arrangements to additional Western Balkan markets, including Serbia and North Macedonia, as interconnection projects progress.

Commercial Structure and Market Significance

From a market perspective, the deal reflects several emerging trends:

Shift toward long-term LNG contracting as a hedge against future supply tightness and price volatility
Integration of infrastructure and supply agreements to de-risk investment in emerging gas markets
Growing role of private-sector intermediaries (such as Aktor LNG USA) in structuring cross-border energy flows

The estimated contract value—around $6 billion over 20 years—indicates a substantial commitment for a relatively small market, underscoring Albania’s ambition to scale beyond domestic demand and participate in regional gas trade.

Execution Risks and Critical Dependencies

Despite its strategic significance, the project faces several execution risks:

Infrastructure delivery risk, particularly the timely development of LNG import capacity and internal gas networks
Demand risk, given Albania’s currently limited gas consumption base
Regulatory and market integration challenges, especially in aligning with EU gas market frameworks

The reliance on interim routing through Greece also introduces transitional dependencies that must be carefully managed.

Conclusion: From Peripheral Market to Emerging Energy Node

The Aktor LNG USA–Albgaz agreement is more than a supply contract—it is a foundational step in repositioning Albania within the regional energy system.

If successfully implemented, it could transform the country from a hydropower-dependent system into a flexible, gas-integrated market with regional relevance. More broadly, it reinforces the Western Balkans’ gradual integration into European energy networks, underpinned by transatlantic LNG flows and new infrastructure corridors.

The real test, however, will lie not in the signing of the agreement, but in its execution—particularly the alignment of infrastructure, regulation, and market demand over the coming decade.