Albania plans to focus on new energy strategy

TIRANA, Oct. 10 – Energy and gas projects remain top priorities along the country’s efforts to join the European market and develop its economy in general, officials say, and efforts made by the new government and the Energy Ministry are being closely watched by Albanians, the business community and international partners.
Energy Minister Damian Gjiknuri has been holding meetings and visits abroad to focus on a new strategy for energy security in Albania.
The new government, in power for less than a month, is also making efforts to resolve the legal dispute with the Czech Republic’s CEZ power utility company after it was pushed out of Albania from the previous government as owner of the power distribution corporation in Albania in a privatization gone bad.
Energy also remains a main issue in talks Albanian diplomats are holding. Foreign Minister Ditmir Bushati took part last week at the Croatia Forum on European Energy Security saying that the prior objective of the Albanian government is integration of the electric power system with systems in the region and in Europe.
Officials say that the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) remains a very good prospect for the country. Gjiknuri met this week with some top officials of the project and assured them that the country offered the entire human and other resources to urge its fast application. Its construction is planned to start in 2015 and last for three and a half years. Following that Albania will be part of the European gas market and also enjoy lower gas prices. At the same time, the country should also build a new network of gas distribution. The government has already started talks with different companies to build it.
TAP was also part of the negotiations with the Italian Foreign Minister Emma Bonino, who visited Albania on Wednesday. TAP goes from Azerbaijan to Turkey, then Greece, and Albania, to follow with an undersea line to Italy.
The TAP is expected to contribute in increasing Albania’s GDP, economy, and will make the bonds between Albania and region, promote foreign investments and create new jobs, officials say.
Hydropower electricity production is currently Albania’s main energy source. A Croatian company,Koncar Power Plant and Electric Traction Engineering (KET), has completed a job in Albania worth over nine million euros, to refurbish units in the Albanian hydroelectric power plants of Vau i Dejes, Koman and Fierza.
The project aimed at separating the transmission network of the Albanian transmission operator (OST) from the electric power production (KESH).