Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Belinda Balluku said in a post on social media that state institutions have reduced the use of electricity by 22% during the month of October.

Balluku thanked all energy administrators, in every state institution, for the excellent work they have done.

“Thanks to every employee who has responsibly embraced the Government’s initiative for saving, contributing in the most difficult energy moment for the country”, said Balluku./p.s./

Deputy Prime Minister, at the same time Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Belinda Balluku stated today during a briefing after the government meeting, that by this decision it is foreseen to save up to 1% of the total annual energy consumed every month, equivalent to 3.4 billion Lekë.

“The managers of all state institutions will have to appoint an administrator, part of the work staff in the company’s structures, who will have as a target the reduction by 15% of the energy consumed”, said Balluku.

According to her, in the changes made to the Normative Act, the measures in case of non-fulfillment of the objective are also foreseen.

“A fine of 50,000 Lekë is foreseen for the head of the institution or the appointed administrator, if this target is not reached for two consecutive months”, stated Balluku./p.s./

Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, at the same time Minister of Infrastructure and Energy said today that on Thursday the government will present the “Energy Package” which includes keeping the price of electricity unchanged up to 800 KWh of energy beginning from October 1.

Balluku also said that the package contains some other drastic measures.

“Tomorrow, together with the prime minister, we will present the package for energy, which, among other things, includes the 800 KWh band that will start implementation beginning from October 1, but also some other drastic measures that we will have to take in the future”, Balluku said after the Government meeting.

She stated that some of the measures were taken according to the best European practices and some were adapted to the requirements of our country. /j.p/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./

In a communication with the citizens to discuss the rising fuel prices in the country, PM Rama said that the idea on saving electricity and oil by the government and state institutions is not wrong.”

“We will impose a strict saving regime on power and oil for the government and public administration. We will introduce drastic cuts in the government and public administration and the use of oil over this limit should be covered by the administration officials themselves. The same goes for the energy. We should impose an energy-saving plan,” PM Rama said.

The government head stressed that “a part of the expenses can be avoided and should be avoided, because the situation is extremely difficult.”

“We must definitely save, because it is also a matter of oil and fuel availability, because we may face total shortages of oil and electricity, because the markets may lack such commodities,” he said.

/j.p/r.e/u.sh/

Asked why Albania has the highest energy price if compared to Kosovo and North Macedonia, Rama said that my question is whether the government should intervene or not, which no country did, because in 1990 we chose to be a free market economy.

“Kosovo and North Macedonia have significantly increased the price of energy on the household bill. Would you agree for this to happen in Albania? It can happen later, but today we provide 45 million dollars subsidy for families in need so that to keep the price of 7 lek/ kWh, while the rest pays 9.5 lek, and today the state buys kWh per 61 lekë, so 61 lekë are paid from the budget, while in our family bill it is 9.5 lekë.  Is it right to intervene in the price of energy or in the price of oil for those who own cars.”

Rama said further that the saving plan is indispensable because it is a war.

“I say, the biggest problem before us is not the price, it is the shortage”, said Rama.

Rama added that we are not under communism and do not influence the price, but I affirm that in this situation there is also speculation with prices./a.a/p.s./