Albania to take over Energy Community presidency

TIRANA, Sept. 23 – “Albania’s utmost priority will be the reform of the Energy Community and bringing to life the recommendations proposed to improve the functioning of the Community, not only by the High Level Reflection Group. It is an opportunity to create a new Energy Union” said Albanian Energy Minister Damian Gjiknuri at a ministerial council meeting in Ukraine, unveiling the priorities of Albania’s Energy Community Presidency in 2015.
Policies guaranteeing safe, competitive and sustainable supply of energy will be on top of the agenda, Gjiknuri said.
In the short-term, Energy Ministers called for the creation of a “one-stop-shop” for the mobilisation of finance for priority investment projects; harmonisation of permitting procedures for investments in energy sector; strengthening technical assistance to the contracting parties, in particular for Third Package implementation; and stronger involvement of the Contracting Parties bodies with the institutional set-up of the EU. Energy Ministers will decide on long-term measures, including proposals on geographical scope of the Energy Community and improvements in law enforcement procedures, in autumn 2015 after an impact assessment of the proposals and public consultation with stakeholders have taken place, said the Energy Community.
Earlier this year, the Vienna-based Energy Community mediated the deal with CEZ Group which will be paid back Euro 95 million for 76 percent of the shares it bought in the Albanian electricity distribution operator in 2009 for Euro 102 million.
Albania’s medium term priorities in the area of energy comprise continuing to ensure proper implementation of action plans in relation to the electricity and gas sector and make further progress with implementation of the Albanian energy strategy, says the Energy Community. “It also involves ensuring timely implementation of the various projects aimed at improving the infrastructure for electricity production, transmission and distribution, continuing to implement regional and international commitments in the energy field with a view to establishing a competitive regional energy market and improving the implementation of the energy efficiency law.”