TIRANA, Sept 16 /ATA/ The Council of Ministers on Wednesday approved a draft law that shifts responsibility for Albania’s hydrocarbon security reserves from private operators to a state‑run entity.
Energy and Infrastructure Minister Enea Karakaçi said the legislation marks a fundamental change in approach, ensuring that strategic reserves will now be directly managed under government control rather than by private companies.
Karakaçi said the newly approved draft law represents a fundamental shift in policy. “Through this draft law we make a complete change to the current approach, where hydrocarbon reserves are held by private operators. With this legal act, the security reserve of hydrocarbons will be managed by a state entity, providing the guarantee and safety in storage and use as defined by law,” he stated.
Energy Minister Enea Karakaçi clarified that the hydrocarbon security reserve is designed to be deployed in cases of supply shortages.
He said the draft law provides for the creation of a National Authority for Hydrocarbon Security, which will oversee the storage and management of the reserve and release it to the market when necessary, in line with legal provisions.
Karakaçi emphasised that the draft law establishes a new National Authority for Hydrocarbon Security, tasked with safeguarding and managing the reserves.
The draft law also aims to align Albania’s legislation with European Union directives on the security of hydrocarbon supply.
/sm/
