CEZ warns of possible New Year’s Eve by candlelight

TIRANA, Dec. 26 – Many Albanians are already suffering continuous power cuts this winter season, but CEZ Shperndarje has again warned that due to its continuous fiscal problems, there is an increased danger that more power cuts are to come.
CEZ said the freezing of its bank accounts by the Albanian authorities has led to the precarious situation.
The Energy Ministry warned through its deputy minister Enno Bozdo that CEZ would be held accountable if it makes power cuts on purpose. The senior official also assured Albanians that there will be no power cuts as the government is spending all the required funding to buy, import energy from other countries.
The two institutions continued to throw words to blame each other for the situation at this moment. The government said that every CEZ employee would be held accountable if the citizens suffer power cuts.
CEZ is trying to sell its unit in Albania after a dispute with the government there over taxes and power prices. The government is opposing that plan, saying that cannot be done without their permission. But after confrontation the likelihood that the company will soon find a buyer for its unprofitable Albanian unit is near zero.
CEZ has asked potential investors to submit bids for CEZ Shperndarje, of which it controls 76 percent. The other 24 percent is owned by the Albanian government.
The government is also trying to sell four small hydropower stations, a move that is opposed by the opposition Socialist Party saying that is a last desperate effort to get some money to the cash-strapped budget.
In other energy news, thegovernment hasd eclared the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) an Object of National Importance. According to the TAP website, that move clears the way for the drafting of the National Sectorial Plan for the project. TAP will continue to work closely together with the Albanian government to realize the project, which will facilitate the connection of Albania to Europe’s energy network.
TAP project is designed to transport gas from the Caspian region via Greece and Albania and across the Adriatic Sea to southern Italy and further into Western Europe.