The participation of Azerbaijan’s Minister of Energy, Parviz Shahbazov, in the promotional event for the Nur Project held in Korçë, Albania, has injected new momentum into Azerbaijan’s energy strategy in the Western Balkans. Attended by Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Belinda Balluku, and representatives of SOCAR Balkans, this event was not merely a technical investment presentation but a symbolic manifestation of Azerbaijan’s growing regional influence in energy diplomacy.[1]
This project represents the first tangible outcome of the memorandum of understanding signed at the COP29 Summit held in Baku in November 2024 and was institutionalized with the opening of the “SOCAR Gas Albania” office in Tirana in February 2025.[2] Financed by SOCAR, the project aims to establish natural gas infrastructure in the city of Korçë. As such, its completion is seen as a critical milestone for enhancing Albania’s energy security and diversifying its energy supply. With a budget of approximately €21 million, the project is scheduled for phased implementation between 2025 and 2027. The first phase involves constructing a gas transmission and distribution network in the Korçë urban center, followed by expansion into surrounding localities such as Pogradec and Ersekë.[3]
The technical scope of the project includes interconnection lines to facilitate integration with a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal, compressor stations, and the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), thereby enabling the effective delivery of Azerbaijani gas to the Albanian domestic market. In this context, access to natural gas is expected not only for residential consumers but also for enterprises in the industrial, agricultural, and tourism sectors. This development could generate significant benefits in terms of supporting regional economic dynamism by lowering energy costs.
Albania’s long-standing dependence on hydropower for electricity production has rendered the country vulnerable in terms of energy security, compelling citizens—particularly during winter months—to resort to traditional and environmentally harmful heating methods such as wood and coal. The integration of natural gas infrastructure is thus not only a step toward technological modernization but also a strategic driver of social welfare and environmental sustainability.[4]
The Nur Project is expected to reduce Albania’s energy dependency, foster alignment with EU energy norms, and provide tangible support for the country’s decarbonization goals. The selection of Korçë as the pilot location reflects the region’s suitability due to its harsh climate and the population’s relatively high adaptability to public services. If successful, the Korçë model could be replicated in other regions. The shift from traditional heating methods to natural gas-based, environmentally friendly systems would bring Albania closer to EU carbon emissions standards.
Moreover, the project is poised to strengthen Albania’s energy supply security and generate positive and direct effects on regional development. With the commissioning of the gas infrastructure, households and commercial users will gain improved access to sustainable and cost-effective energy, thus promoting local economic growth.
However, the limited cultural familiarity with natural gas usage in Albania may delay full utilization of the infrastructure during its initial years. This underscores the need for concurrent public awareness campaigns and usage incentives. SOCAR’s position as the sole investor in the project could eventually invite criticism in terms of transparency, competition, and regulatory balance in the energy sector, necessitating stronger oversight by relevant regulatory authorities.
From Azerbaijan’s perspective, the Nur Project marks not only a continuation of the Southern Gas Corridor as a westward export route but also a strategic shift toward establishing a direct distribution mechanism into European internal markets. This is likely to boost SOCAR’s institutional visibility and influence in the European energy sector. Additionally, by contributing to Albania’s fulfillment of the technical criteria under Chapter 15 of the EU acquis on energy, the project could support the country’s EU accession efforts, offering not just economic but also political leverage.
Geopolitically, the project positions Azerbaijan as a non-Russian alternative in Europe’s energy matrix and could yield long-term diplomatic benefits via SOCAR’s regional integration capabilities. On a local level, the project is expected to generate employment, disseminate technical know-how, and stimulate additional infrastructure investments, thereby producing tangible socio-economic returns.
At the regional level, neighboring countries such as North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Kosovo may emerge as potential candidates for integration into the natural gas infrastructure. This suggests that the Nur Project could serve not only as a national initiative but also as a catalyst for multilateral energy transformation. Furthermore, the indirect alignment of such infrastructure investments with China’s Belt and Road Initiative may create new opportunities for collaboration within regional logistics and energy corridors.
Ultimately, the Nur Project aims to establish an institutionalized energy cooperation framework between Azerbaijan and Albania while simultaneously accelerating the transformation of gas-based energy infrastructure in the Balkans and advancing regional energy integration. Through this project, Azerbaijan will become the first South Caucasus country to make a direct investment in the European energy system, while Albania will gain a strategic opportunity to reinforce its technical alignment under the energy chapter of EU accession. The project’s environmentally friendly nature also contributes to emissions reduction and the realization of green transition goals.
In conclusion, the Nur Project could not only deepen bilateral energy relations between the two countries but also institutionalize gas-based multilateral cooperation models in Southeast Europe, thereby reshaping strategic energy dynamics along the eastern periphery of Europe.
[1] “Azerbaijan’s Energy Minister Attends Presentation of Nur Project – Gasification of Korça City”, AZERTAC, https://azertag.az/en/xeber/azerbaijans_energy_minister_attends_presentation_of_nur_project__gasification_of_korcha_city-3514215, (Access Date: 29.04.2025).
[2] “Azerbaijan’s Energy Minister Launches Nur Gas Project in Albania”, Caucasus Watch, https://www.caucasuswatch.de/en/news/azerbaijans-energy-minister-launches-nur-gas-project-in-albania.html, (Access Date: 29.04.2025).
[3] “Albania and SOCAR Launch Gasification Project in Korça”, CE Energy News, https://ceenergynews.com/oil-gas/albania-and-socar-launch-gasification-project-in-korca/, (Access Date: 29.04.2025).
[4] “Prezantimi i projektit të gazifikimit në qytetin e Korçës”, Ministria e Infrastrukturës dhe Energjisë, https://www.infrastruktura.gov.al/prezantimi-i-projektit-te-gazifikimit-ne-qytetin-e-korces/, (Access Date: 29.04.2025).
