Energy
Sunday, August 23, 2026
Economy · Analysis · Developments
Do we have a gas culture?
When it comes to building a natural gas network in Kosovo, it often creates the impression that citizens would have to get used to a new energy source. In fact, the reality is quite different. Kosovo does not have a cultural shortage of using gas – it only lacks modern infrastructure to supply it.
After the war in 1999, the country faced significant shortages of electricity. For years, power outages lasted for hours and at certain times reached up to 16 hours a day. Faced with this situation, families and businesses were forced to find alternatives. Gas cylinders became part of everyday life for cooking and additional heating. Restaurants, bakeries, pastry shops, and many small businesses relied on gas to continue their activities without depending on the electricity supply.
For over two decades, Kosovo has imported hundreds of thousands of tons of gas, creating a functional off-grid gas economy. The use of gas cylinders is a common skill among citizens. It's not uncommon to say that even a grandmother in Kosovo knows how to replace a gas cylinder to prepare morning coffee.
This shows that the challenge for Kosovo is not the acceptance of gas as an energy source. It is already part of daily life. The challenge is transitioning from an off-grid distribution system with individual cylinders to a modern transmission and distribution network (on-grid) that continuously supplies families and businesses.
A natural gas network would bring considerable benefits to the country's energy system. Today, a large part of cooking and a significant portion of heating are done with electricity, increasing the load on the grid, especially during winter months. If cooking and part of the heating needs were covered with natural gas, the demand for electricity would decrease significantly during peak hours. This would reduce the need for expensive electricity imports, reduce pressure on the electrical grid, and improve supply security.
Furthermore, gas is one of the most efficient sources for heat production. Transporting energy in the form of gas through pipelines requires very little additional energy, and losses are minimal. On the other hand, electricity loses part of it during transmission and distribution in the grid. The less electricity used for processes that can be covered by gas, the less pressure on the grid and the more efficient the entire energy system becomes.
The benefits are not limited to the energy sector. A modern gas network would lower operating costs for restaurants, bakeries, hotels, laundries, hospitals, and the processing industry. It would make Kosovo more attractive for industrial investments, increase the competitiveness of the economy, and create a new source of energy security in the face of future crises.
At the same time, developing a gas network would not imply replacing electricity. Instead, it would create a more balanced energy system, where each source is used where it is most efficient. Electricity would be freed up for sectors that need it most, while gas would cover functions where it is economically and technically more favorable.
Another significant benefit of an on-grid gas system is related to security. Unlike the use of individual cylinders, which are often bought from various sources without guarantees for origin, maintenance, or periodic testing, a gas network would be under constant supervision by authorities and a licensed operator.
Pipelines, metering stations, and connections would be subject to technical standards, regular inspections, and monitoring systems, significantly reducing the risk of leaks, manipulations, or unsafe equipment. A regulated and continuously monitored system would offer a much higher level of security for families and businesses, compared to relying on cylinders circulating in the market without the same institutional control.
Kosovo is not starting from scratch. For over 25 years, citizens and businesses have shown that they know how to use gas and have integrated it into their daily lives. The culture of gas exists. What is missing is the infrastructure that would transform this culture from a cylinder-based system to a modern, safe, continuous, and more economical network for the entire country.
After the war in 1999, the country faced significant shortages of electricity. For years, power outages lasted for hours and at certain times reached up to 16 hours a day. Faced with this situation, families and businesses were forced to find alternatives. Gas cylinders became part of everyday life for cooking and additional heating. Restaurants, bakeries, pastry shops, and many small businesses relied on gas to continue their activities without depending on the electricity supply.
For over two decades, Kosovo has imported hundreds of thousands of tons of gas, creating a functional off-grid gas economy. The use of gas cylinders is a common skill among citizens. It's not uncommon to say that even a grandmother in Kosovo knows how to replace a gas cylinder to prepare morning coffee.
This shows that the challenge for Kosovo is not the acceptance of gas as an energy source. It is already part of daily life. The challenge is transitioning from an off-grid distribution system with individual cylinders to a modern transmission and distribution network (on-grid) that continuously supplies families and businesses.
A natural gas network would bring considerable benefits to the country's energy system. Today, a large part of cooking and a significant portion of heating are done with electricity, increasing the load on the grid, especially during winter months. If cooking and part of the heating needs were covered with natural gas, the demand for electricity would decrease significantly during peak hours. This would reduce the need for expensive electricity imports, reduce pressure on the electrical grid, and improve supply security.
Furthermore, gas is one of the most efficient sources for heat production. Transporting energy in the form of gas through pipelines requires very little additional energy, and losses are minimal. On the other hand, electricity loses part of it during transmission and distribution in the grid. The less electricity used for processes that can be covered by gas, the less pressure on the grid and the more efficient the entire energy system becomes.
The benefits are not limited to the energy sector. A modern gas network would lower operating costs for restaurants, bakeries, hotels, laundries, hospitals, and the processing industry. It would make Kosovo more attractive for industrial investments, increase the competitiveness of the economy, and create a new source of energy security in the face of future crises.
At the same time, developing a gas network would not imply replacing electricity. Instead, it would create a more balanced energy system, where each source is used where it is most efficient. Electricity would be freed up for sectors that need it most, while gas would cover functions where it is economically and technically more favorable.
Another significant benefit of an on-grid gas system is related to security. Unlike the use of individual cylinders, which are often bought from various sources without guarantees for origin, maintenance, or periodic testing, a gas network would be under constant supervision by authorities and a licensed operator.
Pipelines, metering stations, and connections would be subject to technical standards, regular inspections, and monitoring systems, significantly reducing the risk of leaks, manipulations, or unsafe equipment. A regulated and continuously monitored system would offer a much higher level of security for families and businesses, compared to relying on cylinders circulating in the market without the same institutional control.
Kosovo is not starting from scratch. For over 25 years, citizens and businesses have shown that they know how to use gas and have integrated it into their daily lives. The culture of gas exists. What is missing is the infrastructure that would transform this culture from a cylinder-based system to a modern, safe, continuous, and more economical network for the entire country.
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