Albania steps back to market liberalisation, increased energy security

The assessment, which represents a strong blow to the government's energy recovery plan, notes that the country has taken steps back in many ways, from market liberalisation to resource diversification or increased energy security.

The procedure of structural reforms in Albania's energy sector this year was only on paper”, said the assessment.

According to the secretariat, construction of the energy stock exchange in Albania continues to drag on, like the functional division of the distribution operator, measures that should open up the market. In addition, the report has strong criticism of the procrastination of the Akernia solar plant.

The first “The renewable energy auction of the 50-megawatt solar plant took place at the end of 2018. But it is disturbing that the contract has not yet been signed. ”

The Akernia plant was won by a consortium led by India Power Generation. But the infrastructure ministry has not yet signed the energy purchase agreement. This secretariat is considered disturbing.

“Stability and predictability of the legal renewable energy framework should be guaranteed. Like transparency and not discriminating investors. ”

The report notes that reforms in the country have also been penalised by staff shifts, which isolate the dismissal of the agency's energy efficiency director.

According to the secretariat, this act has negatively affected the financial support of the project by the EU. For years, energy reform has been described as one of the government's greatest successes. But the World Bank and the IMF note that reform has slowed, while according to the secretariat the country is taking steps back. /tch