 |
In a meeting in Tirana, with a group of investors in the energy sector operating in the US and EU markets, Prime Minister Edi Rama spoke about his ambition to transform Albania into a net exporter of electricity.
"I am very pleased to witness the progress made in the work to transform the Vlora plant, the Vlora power plant into a power plant, in the processing of plant energy and also to witness many things that are happening with solar energy in Albania. A lot of work is being done for that wind energy and quite massive work that is going on for the long dream of the Skavica hydropower plant, which will increase by 20% the production of energy from water. All these together show a concrete potential to transform Albania within this decade into a net exporter of energy, which is major for a country like Albania and we have roads", said Rama.
Gas supply is another aspect of the Prime Minister's attention: "A few days ago, I had the honor to visit President Aliyev and with pleasure I felt and witnessed in his words the high interest that will be included in the Ionian-Adriatic pipeline, which could be another major game-changer for our region, but which at the same time could be a power, new energy for Europe, to gain a gas independence as soon as possible from Russia”.
The importance of the region's energy independence from Russian sources was also emphasized by the US Ambassador Yuri Kim: "We have all seen that the unjustified invasion by Russia of Ukraine has made it clear that energy diversification can not wait, even last night we saw how Russia has threatened and blocked gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria. Energy security has always been closely linked to national security and what we are living in at the moment makes it even more visible. "The region must seek to find creative solutions together, to find a new way forward for energy security and climate security."
The most concrete in the use of the TAP pipeline was the Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, Belinda Balluku: “Our project, where one of the main components is the connection of the TAP pipeline with the floating port LNG in Vlora, through the Fier-Vlora pipeline, has attracted the attention of large actors of the gas sector, who are located here in this hall. Until recently, the injection of liquefied gas from Vlora into TAP would have been met with much skepticism. Today, due to the consequences of the energy crisis, it is possible and feasible, but also the winning key to this project."