During a Q&A session with journalists and members of the public via the social media, the government head responded and downplayed the allegations over the supposed effects of the two floating thermal power plants on the environment, saying the allegations aim at misinforming the public.

“The two thermal power plants already in the Vlora Bay now will start generating electricity as of January 1 next year. Every sort of speculations has been made, saying that the ships were allegedly coming from Bangladesh and they are allegedly a natural disaster. The truth is that the two facilities have arrived in Vlora, because they are both owned by the U.S. company Excelerate Energy. The two floating power plants will generate 114 megawatt hour electricity, which is crucial to maintain an energy balance amid the crisis and the two ships are coming here as an outcome of an incredible, persisting and diplomatic efforts at the highest level,” he said.

The government head noted that Excelerate Energy has installed such power plants in Manhattan and in Berlin, Germany.

The Premier also provided details over the agreement that Albanian government and the US gas company, Excelerate Energy Inc signed to turn the Vlora thermal power plant into a terminal for liquefied natural gas last March.

“We have signed a deal with Excelerate Energy on the project to transform the notorious Vlora thermal power plant-  which never became operational despite projects worth millions and was left as dilapidated ruins-  into a gas-fired energy source. Around 100 megawatt hour electricity will be generated by end of 2023 thanks to this plant, and its capacity will be expanded by 200 more megawatts in the next few years, and the thermal power plant will produce a total of 300 megawatt hours,” he said.

The government head stated that Albania will become an independent and a net energy exporter by 2030.

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The Director General for Energy at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy, Enea Kakaraçi stated Wednesday that the government has already taken a series of measures to best response to the global energy crisis and make sure that consumers face no power cuts during the winter months.

He said that the measures also include leasing two floating TEC terminals, which will be installed at Vlora’s Triport area and the two have a combined daily generation capacity of 2400 MW.

In a media interview, Kakaraçi said that the two platforms will generate enough electricity to meet 10 to 20% of the domestic need.

“If such an opportunity was not on offer, the government would have been forced to purchase electricity at the market price rates. The two plants will generate 2400 MW electricity daily at a time when the electricity price at the international market is over 500 euros. One should take into account the cost if we were to purchase electricity at the free market. Such a temporary measure provides flexibility. A new support measure will be launched in October t support installation of the solar panels and the government will take over 70% of the cost for more than 2000 household consumers,” Kakaraçi said.

Last week, the Albanian government introduced its energy savings measures, which include a 800kWh limit per month for families who want to avoid paying a higher rate for electricity.

Monthly consumption of 800 KwH is equivalent to 9120 leks , with some 90% of the population spending below that currently. Once that limit is reached, the cost of 11.4 leks per KwH  will quadruple to 35 leks per KwH  plus a 7-lek transmission and distribution fee.

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