In a discussion organized by the American Chamber of Commerce in Kosovo on the topic “Utilizing U.S. LNG for Energy Security and Strategic Alignment of Kosovo,” Deputy Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy for Europe, Eurasia, Africa, and the Middle East, Dan Byers, reaffirmed the United States’ support for Kosovo’s efforts to diversify its energy sources and strengthen its energy security.

Emphasizing that “energy security is national security,” Byers stressed that energy resilience is measured through diversification of sources and supply alternatives. He acknowledged the role of coal as the backbone of Kosovo’s energy system, but added that liquefied natural gas (LNG) could become an important component of the country’s future energy mix, especially amid rising energy demand.

Speaking about supply potential, Byers highlighted that the United States is the world’s largest producer of natural gas and that American LNG export capacity is expected to grow significantly in the coming years. He noted that the U.S. already supplies around 60% of Europe’s LNG imports and will continue to play a key role in supporting European allies through secure and diversified energy supplies.

Byers underlined that supply availability alone is not sufficient without the development of the necessary infrastructure, stressing the importance of investments in regional interconnections and energy corridors that could enable Kosovo’s access to LNG. In this context, he mentioned the commitment of the U.S. Department of Energy to support infrastructure projects and regional initiatives that strengthen energy security in Southeast Europe.

Referring to recommendations from the American Chamber, Byers emphasized the importance of long-term planning, feasibility studies, strategic investments, and energy diplomacy to ensure that Kosovo is prepared to benefit from LNG opportunities.

In conclusion, he reaffirmed the readiness of the U.S. Department of Energy to support Kosovo through technical expertise, capacity building, and strategic cooperation, stressing that strengthening the energy security of allies and partners remains a key priority for the United States.