Albania’s government and U.S.-based Argent LNG have signed a non-binding memorandum to examine an onshore storage and regasification terminal. The study is intended to assess the facility as regional infrastructure rather than only an Albanian supply asset. The memorandum was signed this week.
Terminal concept and potential cross-border connections
The proposed terminal would be designed from the outset with potential interconnections in mind. Those links include the Trans Adriatic Pipeline, the planned Ionian-Adriatic Pipeline, and the Fier-Vlorë gas corridor. The concept also envisages routing LNG into wider Balkan and European gas networks.
If LNG arrives in Albania, it could move north towards Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Croatia. It could also move east towards North Macedonia and other Balkan markets. The memorandum framework therefore places the project within multiple possible directions for gas flows.
Planned scale versus Albania’s domestic demand
At full utilisation, the terminal would handle 5 million tonnes per year of LNG. That throughput is described as roughly 6.5-7 billion cubic metres of gas annually. The figure is stated to be far above Albania’s own prospective domestic demand.
The stated mismatch between terminal capacity and domestic demand is used to characterise the project as inherently regional. It is positioned to support cross-border deliveries rather than being limited to local consumption needs. The memorandum also links the infrastructure to broader energy uses within Albania.
Regional LNG entry points since the 2022 crisis
Southeast Europe’s gas market has shifted rapidly since the 2022 energy crisis. Greece has increased its role as a southern LNG entry point through Revithoussa and new floating import infrastructure. Bulgaria and Romania have also expanded their positions as transit markets for gas moving north.
An Albanian terminal would add a second major Adriatic route for regional buyers. That could strengthen competition between entry points across Western Balkans markets. For Albania, the infrastructure is described as supporting planned gasification, thermal generation, and industrial demand.
Infrastructure competition and project timing
For the wider Balkans, a key question is whether another LNG terminal would improve competition between import routes or instead create additional capacity competing for globally priced LNG cargoes. The experience of Greece is cited in relation to physical diversification not automatically translating into cheaper gas. New terminals and interconnectors are described as improving security of supply by reducing dependence on individual pipelines or suppliers.
LNG pricing is stated to remain linked to global demand, shipping costs, and European hub prices. Argent’s target is first LNG exports from its planned Louisiana facilities around 2030. This schedule provides several years for feasibility work, permitting, financing, and interconnection planning.
The memorandum notes that progress on the Ionian-Adriatic Pipeline would be a determining factor for how the Albanian project can function commercially. Without sufficient cross-border infrastructure and long-term buyers, a large Albanian terminal could face challenges in justifying its planned capacity. A commercial test would be whether regional buyers can access Albanian LNG more cheaply and flexibly than supplies entering through Greece and Bulgaria.
