During a recent conference in the Albanian capital of Tirana, the country’s Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Belinda Balluku said that there is a high level of interest from foreign investors in Albania and welcomed each investment in the energy sector, as reported by the EU’s Western Balkan Investment Framework (WBIF).
Last Monday (13 March), Minister Balluku announced a new legislative package for the development of wind and solar farms in the country, following the “increased interest” from private investors.
During the conference in Tirana, Minister Balluku also addressed developments in the energy sector and presented the Albanian government’s response to the energy crisis, including floating oil-fired power plants, wind farms, and solar power plants.
The Minister said that the construction of the power transmission line between Albania and North Macedonia, supported by funds from the WBIF, is currently progressing at the same pace in both countries.
At the conference, Vasiliki Manavi, an expert at the Energy Directorate-General’s office at the European Commission, underlined that the EU has been a part of the consultation and dialogue process to support reforms in Albania’s energy sector. In addition, the EU provides financing for technical assistance and investment grants for the energy sector under the WBIF.
Discussing energy diversification and integration with the EU’s climate policies, Ekaterina Solovova, Head of the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in Albania, emphasised that supporting Albania in the diversification of renewable energy sources through policy assistance and investments remains one of the core strategic priorities for EBRD work in the country.
Ilir Beqaj, General Director of NIPAC State Agency for Strategic Programming and Aid Coordination, said that Albania benefitted from the European Economic and Investment Plan in the energy sector through WBIF Flagship projects, while the EU’s Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA III) has dedicated three million euros to the sector via the EU Integration Facility.
