An energy project endorsed by former U.S. Ambassador to Albania, Yuri Kim, is now under scrutiny for allegedly funding Turkish-Iranian networks. These networks include U.S.-sanctioned companies, groups tied to Iran’s military, and hydrocarbon smuggling operations.
Albanian Energy Deal Raises Security Concerns
In 2022, amid the Ukraine war, Ambassador Kim publicly backed an energy project involving two Thermal Generation Ships (TGS). These ships, relocated from Bangladesh to Albania, were meant to provide electricity during the energy crisis.
The Albanian government fast-tracked the procurement process, securing the ships through an American company. However, an investigation by Hashtag.al exposed inefficiencies. The ships generated electricity at quadruple the cost of Albania’s energy exports. Despite delays, the government upheld the contract.
Fuel procurement became the next priority. In November 2024, the Albanian Power Corporation (KESH) ordered 21,000 tons of fuel, valued at $11 million. Import documents obtained by Hashtag.al listed KESH as the importer, despite lacking a fuel trading license.
The supplier, Swiss-based EMAD Energy S.A., sourced 20,000 tons of fuel from Algeria. Notably, “EMAD” is also the name of a well-known Iranian missile, raising concerns about the company’s origins.
While the company’s ownership remains undisclosed, leaked documents reveal EMAD Energy’s history of fuel supply deals with Albania. In 2021, it worked alongside ASB Group, a Turkish firm under U.S. sanctions.
Iranian Leaks Reveal Smuggling Operations
Leaked emails from 2021 expose EMAD Energy’s administrator coordinating fuel shipments with ASB Group representatives. One shipment involved 3,400 tons of fuel sourced from Algeria’s state-owned oil company, Sonatrach. Algeria, a close Iranian ally, has strengthened its energy ties with Tehran.
Further investigations uncovered deeper connections between Turkish firms and Albania. In 2020, ASB Group facilitated a $36 million Iranian oil sale, using Albania as a transit hub. A Turkish-owned company in Albania, MAC General Trading shpk, played a crucial role in the scheme.
Email exchanges between MAC General Trading’s representative, Murat Halli, and ASB Group’s Kazim Oztaz reveal the operation’s scope. Oztaz, convicted in 2023 by a U.S. court for sanction violations, was later officially sanctioned.
Additional leaked emails show MAC General Trading processed tax invoices through an ASB Group subsidiary. A confidential contract from the leaks confirms the Albanian company directly purchased Iranian fuel through a deal with Iran’s Madolia Group. This evidence suggests Albania helped bypass sanctions and embargoes in 2020.
Albania’s Role in Iranian Oil Smuggling
Albania’s involvement is linked to Prime Minister Edi Rama’s close ties with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. This connection, coupled with Energy Minister Belinda Balluku’s weak oversight, enabled the operations.
ASB Group, owned by Erdoğan ally Sitki Ayan, runs joint ventures with Iran’s military across at least 12 companies. Leveraging his influence, Ayan facilitated access to Albanian government entities, including KESH.
Former Pentagon official Michael Rubin suggested that Ambassador Yuri Kim may have tolerated these dealings. Her ambitions to become the next U.S. Ambassador to Turkey could have influenced her stance on Albania’s cooperation with Turkish-backed networks.
The unfolding investigation raises questions about Albania’s role in global energy security and sanctions enforcement.
