“We want to clarify to all investors that this process is transparent and legal and as such it cannot be annulled due to the political caprices of the opposition leader,” says the Ministry of Economy
TIRANA, June 6 – The government has assured potential domestic and foreign investors interested in buying state-owned assets that the privatization process will be fully legal and transparent and that the opposition’s threats of not recognizing them are legally baseless. “The privatization process undergoes a clear legal procedure and as such another legal procedure would be needed for the annulment of these privatizations. The Albanian Constitution clearly guarantees the inalienable right to property. We want to clarify to all investors that this process is transparent and legal and as such it cannot be annulled due to the political caprices of the opposition leader,” said the Ministry of Economy in a statement. The reaction came soon after opposition leader Edi Rama threatened that his Socialist Party would review all privatizations as soon as it comes to power. This threat came after a government announcement that it has also included small and medium-sized hydropower plants on the privatization list of 1,280 public assets. The initiative has sparked debates even among energy experts who doubt the efficiency of the privatization. The four hydropower plants, including the Ulez and Shkopet HPPs on the River Mat, in northern Albania, and two small HPPs on the Bistrica River, in southern Albania, have an installed power of 77 Megawatts, accounting for 5.3 percent of hydro electricity produced by KESH and are already profitable. The government says it has completed assessment procedures for 280 assets, worth 5.36 billion lek, and is currently examining 455 other assets. The privatization list also includes remaining state owned shares in strategic oil, and phone companies, small hydropower plants, military facilities and small and medium-sized enterprises. However, large hydropower plants and dams, schools, hospitals and public buildings and offices which will remain under state ownership.
