New solar power plants are expected to be developed without state support schemes and outside concession procedures.

One application was filed by I&N Energy, which plans to build a 25-megawatt solar plant in the Darëzezë area of Fier. Another application was submitted by Park Sol Energy for a 50-MW photovoltaic facility in Saranda.

The third application was lodged by HD Solar, which aims to develop a solar power plant with an installed capacity of 60 MW in the Libohova Centre administrative unit.

The new projects would add a total installed capacity of 135 MW, reflecting growing private-sector interest in the development of solar energy in Albania through investments largely driven by market mechanisms.

Although solar power still accounts for a relatively modest share of the country’s overall energy generation mix, its contribution has been steadily increasing.

Official data for the third quarter of the year show that about 29% of domestically produced electricity, or 311,397 megawatt-hours (MWh), came from solar plants, with the Karavasta solar park accounting for more than half of national solar power output.

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The investment for the two power plants is expected to be completed within 36 months and the power plants will have a 49-year operating period.

In Erseka, the photovoltaic power plant is expected to be built by the “Met Invest” company, while in Fier the power plant will be built by the “IDI 2005” company.

The companies are obliged to report every three months on the progress of the works, to respect environmental conditions and to submit contract insurance in the amount of 5% of the investment.

The Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy and the National Agency of Natural Resources are entitled to exercise general supervision with 3-month deadlines during implementation, commissioning and operation, with the aim of verifying that the works, quality, conformity and operation are in accordance with the general implementation program and the project documentation.

This decision enters into force immediately and is published in the “Official Gazette”. /m.q/r.e/a.f/p.s./

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Arjan Jaupllari said that these two draft laws focus on food safety and establish rules and rigorous control for animal diseases that can spread to humans and for plant health, their protection from pests and diseases.

Jaupllari noted that Albania aims for EU membership and must follow European standards in the production and safety of products, which, as he put it, “starts by approximating animal and plant health regulations with those of the EU”.

“Food safety and veterinary services are part of chapters 11 and 12 of the EU. Therefore, these laws will be a strong basis on which we will rely in the negotiation process”, he emphasized.

According to him, the draft law “On Animal Health” supports the livestock and food production sectors in the country in terms of sustainable competitiveness, job growth, investment and export of live animals and animal products. Jaupllari said that the law on animal health and the law on plant protection aim not only to guarantee the quality of production, but also to protect the environment. /j.p/p.s./

Four companies have recently submitted application to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy for the construction of photovoltaic plants with a total installed capacity of 235 MW.

Thus, the GREENSOL sh.p.k Company has expressed interest and submitted an application to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy for the construction of a photovoltaic plant with an installed capacity of 49.96 MW, located in Bistrica, Finiq Municipality, for the production of electricity from renewable sources, which is not subject to concession and does not benefit from support measures.

AGRO ILIRIA GROUP sh.p.k has also submitted an application for the construction of a photovoltaic plant with an installed capacity of 45 MW, located in the administrative unit of Remas, Divjaka municipality, for the production of electricity from renewable sources, which is not subject to concession and does not benefit from support measures.

EURON SOLAR-PV sh.p.k has submitted an application for the construction of a photovoltaic plant with an installed capacity of 100 MW, located in the villages of Fusha and Povelça, Fier municipality, for the production of electricity from renewable sources, which is not subject to concession and does not benefit from support measures.

And the “ROZAFA” sh.p.k has submitted an application for the construction of a photovoltaic plant with an installed capacity of 40 MW, located near the village of Shmil, Elbasan, for the production of electricity from renewable sources, which is not subject to concession and does not benefit from support measures.

Thanks to increased investments in energy, last year there was a 15.3% increase in the country’s production capacity and a fivefold increase in green production from photovoltaics, mainly from the efficiency of the Karavasta photovoltaic plant. /r.e/a.f/p.s./

The Ministry of Agriculture reported that during the period January-October 2024, the exports of medicinal herbs increased by about 14%.

While the total agricultural exports during the first 10 months of 2024 recorded an increase of 18.8%, compared to the same period last year.

The ministry said that the medicinal herbs sector continues to have a significant socio-economic impact, both in increasing employment and in ensuring economic income from exports of these herbs, which are in high demand in the foreign markets.

So far, in Albania there have been identified more than 400 medicinal and aromatic herbs, of which more than 200 are collected and traded. /e.xh/ /a.g/p.s./

“Pursuant to the government’s Normative Act, work has begun on the settlement of accrued arrears of military plants for the period 2010-2024; an amount of 213,000,000 lek is earmarked for Poliçan Mechanical Plant; 50 000 000 lek for Mjekës Explosives Plant and 27 000 000 lek for the Gramsh Mechanical Plant,” Vengu said in a post on the social media.

“Settling the liabilities to the three military factories opens a new chapter for the regions where these facilities are located, as this is only the first step towards regenerating local economy,” Defence Minister said.

Vengu said that the financial package also supports establishment of the state-owned defence company, which will be entitled to sign cooperation agreements with foreign investors from the NATO countries to revive the country’s dormant defence industry.

Rebuilding the country’s military industry will require an integrated and coordinated approach to address not only technological and operational aspects, but also legal, financial, economic, social and environmental issues.

This process aims to promote innovation and technological development in defence industry through a close cooperation with the private sector, as Albania is seeking to strengthen its strategic position in the region, becoming a more important defence and security player, in full compliance with the North Atlantic Alliance goals.

The government aims to revive the weapon production plants by partnering with foreign investors through public-private ventures.

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Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Anila Denaj stated today that so far there are issued 14,454 phytosanitary certificates for shipments of plants, plant products and other products for export.

According to her, this figure is a clear reflection of the fulfillment of phytosanitary safety standards by farmers and processors, according to the requirements based on EU legislation.

Now, the issue of the phytosanitary certificate is offered online; this process facilitates the exporting business, reduces the waiting time and affects the preservation of the standards of agricultural products in exports.

The filling of phytosanitary certificate by hand, as well as carrying out the monitoring, requires an average of 1-1.5 hours of work. While the online process for all economic operators who will carry out exports, does not last more than 10 minutes./p.s./

The Board of the Energy Regulatory Body announced today the start of the procedure for the licensing of two companies “Sunpower 2017” and “Sun Avenue”, in the activity of electricity production from the photovoltaic plant with an installed capacity of 2 MW, in Povelçë, in the municipality Fier.

Other companies have also been looking for entering the market for energy production from renewable sources.

After the construction of the photovoltaic park at the Vau i Dejës dam, with a capacity of 5143 kWp, the Deputy Prime Minister, at the same time the Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Belinda Balluku has recently announced that this year will start the construction of the photovoltaic park at the dam of Zadeja, which will be 8.3 megawatt-hours.

Meanwhile, in Karavasta, in the middle of last year, work began on the construction of the photovoltaic park that will produce 140 megawatt-hours and is expected to be operational next year.

The investment by the French company “Voltalia” for the largest park in the Balkans will cost 100 million euros.

The “Voltalia” company will also build the Spitalla photovoltaic park with a capacity of 100 megawatts of electricity on an area of 120 hectares. /j.p/p.s./

The prime minister brought to attention some data from the development of agriculture in this area, thanks to the financing from the support schemes.

“Your work is truly extraordinary and the data of this area are truly extraordinary. Meanwhile, on TV there is presented another reality about the village spreading more and more lies, tricks, fabrications, manipulations through a venomous tongue”, said Rama.

The prime minister said that in this area there are 1,144 ha planted with grain, 136 ha with vegetables, 160 ha with potatoes, 34 ha with beans, 6,730 ha of fodder, 266 ha with orchards, 35 ha with vineyards and 146,754 apple trees, plums, pears, plums, cherries, walnuts, hazelnuts occupying a considerable area.

The prime minister assured that the government will continue to finance through support schemes.

“The facts of Albanian countryside are absolutely different from what people who do not live in the countryside know on a daily basis. Unfortunately, everything that is said about the village not only creates the idea that it is mired in misery, but also does not encourage young people to work in the village. This is the time we live in and everyone should be very careful to abuse and manipulation by the misinformation that is part of the way politics is done in this country. A part of those who deal with politics do not stop poisoning the minds of the people, lying, slandering, swearing and accusing, words that only take us away from tradition, customs, which is good to respect,” said Rama. /j.p/p.s./

According to the ministry, 2 of them have an installed capacity of up to 5 MW, while another application is for a plant with a capacity of 25 MW.

Two companies, “Vana solar park” and “Green vitality” have already submitted to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy, the application for the construction of two photovoltaic plants for the production of electricity from renewable sources, with a capacity of 5 MW each, in the village of Vana and Delvina.

According to the ministry, the temporary merger of the companies “HSD energy”, “IPOWER” and “Lumiere du soleil” has submitted an application for construction of a photovoltaic plant for the production of electricity from renewable sources, with a capacity of 25 MW in the village of Jagodina, Elbasan.

During 2022, there has been a flow of requests to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy to invest in photovoltaic plants, for a capacity of 610 megawatts/hour, which are expected to start generation.

Albania’s climate offers about 2,400 hours of sunshine per year and an average of 240-300 sunny days, as well as significant wind power on the coast.

In order to promote development of this sector, the government has also launched facilitating policies, such as specifically the exemption from the value added tax (VAT) of all machinery and equipment that will be used for the construction of solar and wind energy production projects as well as for investments reaching the value of 50 million ALL. /j.p/p.s./