Deputy Prime Minister, also Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Belinda Balluku wrote in the social media that the relevant teams of the Electricity Power Distribution System Operator have worked non-stop over the last 24 hours, making it possible to repair the defects caused by the bad weather.

According to the minister, the problems with the electricity supply are completely resolved in Vlora region and almost completely resolved in Durrës, Burrel, Fier, Kukës, Korça, Berat and Gjirokastra.

“There are minor problems in Shkodra region and especially in Elbasan region where Përrenjas substation continues to be out of service,” Balluku further underlined.

The minister emphasized that 90% of the defects in the feeders have been repaired and power has been restored to about 81% of the affected consumers.

“Compared to the situation this morning, there is a significant improvement in terms of eliminating breakdowns nationwide, making it possible to repair 90% of feeder defects and restore power to about 81% of affected consumers,” wrote Balluku.

The minister added that according to forecasts tomorrow the temperatures will drop further, making the situation for electricity transmission and distribution even more challenging. /a.f/r.e/p.s./

The minister said that the energy will be cut off in some main road axes of the country and their branches. There will also be interruptions of energy for institutions after 00:00 hrs.

But, the measures taken will not affect households or small businesses, for which there will be no price changes or interruptions of electricity supply.

Balluku said energy should be saved while the energy quantities in the international markets are limited.

“Since, there will be no rainfall over the next 2 weeks, the situation gets aggravated and we will turn to import and therefore, we will have to consume as little electricity as possible. We have prepared an import request for 17 thousand 800 MWh of energy. Albanian Road Authority in cooperation with the Electricity Utility OSHEE will take measures for interruption of energy in some national road axes, such as Tirana-Durrës, Qafë Kashar-Rinas, Korçë-Ersekë, Lin-Pogradec etc. There will also be interruptions in some road branch, such as Fier Bypass, Lezhë-Shengjin and Shkodër-Hani i Hotit. These measures will not affect those roads that are related with road safety, such as the roundabouts. The institutions will also limit energy for unnecessary lighting, starting at 00:00. The government will continue to protect the households, medium business that will also have no change in price. The quantities in the international markets are limited, so we are looking for your understanding “, said Balluku./p.s./

During a press conference, the prime minister said that, “We have decided to set up the Special Committee and we have been sitting since the first day of the start of this disaster to prepare possible scenarios, from simple scenarios to the most difficult ones”.

Rama stressed that, “We must be psychologically prepared for situations of dramatic cuts in all energy or oil supplies.”

“We have to prepare for this, as well. It can happen, even though this is the most dramatic scenario because the replacement of the resources that have been provided by Russia for so many years, is extremely complicated”, said PM Rama.

But, at the same time, Rama said that, “It is an obligation to do our best so that the war does not spread militarily.”

“Our purpose is to protect life, health and the most significant thing, to protect Albania from escalation of aggression into the military field,” said Rama.

The prime minister stressed that, “Albania is part of these countries that are making the same efforts and the goal is to protect ourselves.”

“The government will do its best to protect our people. It’s absolutely not a movie what we watch on the screen right now. It is a real war as we have seen in the movies of the Second World War or in the infamous year of the brutal war of ethnic cleansing in Kosovo. But, this is in context of the mission of a military power that can blindly escalate its own aggression even within NATO borders,” Rama said. /a.a/p.s./

Explaining the changes in the law “On value added tax” during the plenary session of the Assembly, Minister Ibrahimaj said that the government is set to guarantee that the money goes to the citizens, to the farmers and not only in business.

“We thought that by reducing taxes, these reduced taxes would go into the pockets of citizens, would go into the pockets of farmers. But, that did not happen. In fact, all exemptions from VAT have not rendered into price cuts”, said Ibrahimaj.

According to Minister Ibrahimaj, the same situation is for farmers.

“Therefore, we will continue to give incentives to the sector, keeping the rate at 10%, and let me reiterate that all this money that will be collected additionally from VAT is money that will go directly to the agricultural sector to support farmers”, said the minister./p.s./