New gov’t aims to deal with new energy opportunities and old problems

TIRANA, Sept. 30 – Albania is expected to sign in October a contract with Kosovo for the construction of a 400KW electric power transmission line.
The project had been stalling due to Albania’s concerns and it seems that the new government has set it as a goal to move forward with the contract, according to comments
Prime Minister Edi Rama made when he visited Prishtina just after being decreed to the post.
This is the latest in a series of energy projects, led by the TAP gas pipeline project that goes through Albania. Albania is in the verge of sealing the deal with its subcontractor. Tirana will also ask to build the gas distribution network in the country.
That was one of the reasons that new AlbanianForeign Minister Ditmir Bushati used his trip to New York, where he met with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session.
They spoke about the strategic significance of the TAP project for Albania and also for the whole region.
Albania’s new government has again set energy sector as a main target of its work.
But the new government will also have to deal with the conflict with the Czech company CEZ. Energy Minister Damian Gjiknuri met with the World Bank team in Tirana and asked themassistance to resolve the issue.
CEZ is seeking international arbitration against the Albanian state power regulator, ERE, after the government resumed control of the national grid earlier this year.
The dispute between Albania’s government and CEZ over unpaid bills and investment pledges led to water supply cuts and daily rolling blackouts.
CEZ bought 76 percent of the grid operator for 102 million euro in 2009.