TIRANA, Feb. 25 – The Vienna-based Energy Community Secretariat, an international organization dealing with energy policy, has warned Albania could face penalties if it does not adopt and submit the national renewable action plan. In a statement issued this week, the Secretariat warns Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Macedonia to adopt the national action plans within two months.
“If the countries concerned do not notify measures to ensure full compliance with this obligation within two months, the Secretariat may submit the concerned cases to the Ministerial Council for a decision on the Contracting Parties’ breach of Energy Community Law,” says the Energy Community.
The Treaty Reform, the Third Package, the new acquis and investments will be the four priorities of Albania’s rotating presidency of the Vienna-based Energy Community during 2015. At the Kiev Ministerial Council in September 2014, Energy Minister Damian Gjiknuri announced that Albania’s presidency priorities will consist of realizing the reforms of the High Level Reflection Group and other stakeholders to improve the functioning of the Energy Community and implementing the Third Energy Package.
Albania would also like to see a number of laws adopted, including on security of gas supply, energy infrastructure, transparency on electricity markets, energy efficiency as well as the first set of network codes. In addition, Albania has prioritized the creation of the Southern Gas Corridor with the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) project having the leading role.
In mid-2014, 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.”
