11 minutes agoAlbania gets highest power cuts in region
Periskopi(8 years ago)
(8 years ago)The international Monetary Fund said Albania is the country with the biggest power cuts in the Balkans. In a special report on infrastructure in the Western Balkans, The IMF notes that in 2016, every Albanian consumer lacked electricity for 97 hours. This is the highest level of power cuts in countries [...]
This is the highest level of power cuts in developing countries in the region. According to the IMF, for Kosovo, lack of energy in 2016 was 62 hours, while in Montenegro and Macedonia energy lacked only 27 hours and 5.6 hours for the entire year.
According to the report, during 2016 every Albanian consumer was cut off 43 times the electricity or almost once a week. In Kosovo, the figure was 35 times, while in Montenegro and Macedonia, energy was cut short less than 20 times.
“Albania, Kosovo and Macedonia suffer from an unstable power supply. The situation is best in Bosnia and Serbia, where the power supply is guaranteed,” says the IMF report.
Compared to European Union countries, energy companies in Albania are 50 times higher. According to the IMF in EU countries, energy lacked only two hours for the entire year, with only one interruption.
Energy reform has been trumpeted by Edi Rama's government as one of its greatest achievements. In 2015 the government significantly raised the price of energy for both family and business. Energy action was even accompanied by severe pressure measures that hit poor families the most.
During 2015 thousands of poor citizens were imprisoned for being unable to pay light bills. But while the state mercilessly punished citizens, energy service has again remained problematic with numerous disruptions.
According to the Monetary Fund, energy infrastructure continues to remain one of the biggest obstacles to doing business in Albania.
