According to official data, 3,901 electric vehicles were registered from January to September this year – an 80% increase compared to the same period in 2024. Authorities say the growth reflects increasing awareness among both individuals and businesses about the environmental impact of transport.

Electric vehicles with zero mileage accounted for 39.9% of all new zero-kilometer vehicle registrations during the period, up from 28.2% in 2024, 25% in 2023, and just 7.2% in 2022 – highlighting a steady upward trend.

Beyond registration figures, officials point to the environmental benefits as a key achievement. From January to September 2025 alone, EV usage is estimated to have prevented over 13 million kilograms of carbon dioxide emissions – the equivalent of planting more than 452,000 trees.

The progress strengthens Albania’s commitment to sustainable development goals and is expected to support further clean transport policies in the years ahead.

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Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Enkelejda Muçaj told lawmakers that the proposed legislation aims to promote production and use of renewable energy sources in the transport sector through increased use of biofuels, which partially replace petroleum by-products with non-fossil fuels for internal combustion engines.

According to her, biofuel use is projected to increase by 1% annually, reaching 7% by the end of 2030. This target aligns with European Parliament directives and Albania’s commitments within the EU integration framework, while also ensuring environmental protection through the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

“Albania is at an advanced stage in aligning its legislation with that of the EU and is adopting the third energy package, which includes a series of legislative acts we have implemented. We are currently enforcing the latest standards approved by the European Commission, establishing mechanisms not only for stabilizing principles but also for effective implementation through secondary legislation,” Deputy Minister Muçaj stated.

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The unmanned aerial vehicles Bayraktar drones, which have been provided to Albania’s Air Forces in April this year, will also help authorities in a number of areas, including monitoring the country’s territory for environmental protection, water management and the fight against illegal construction activities.

The decision defines the rules of cooperation between the Armed Forces and the relevant institutions, including the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy; the Ministry of Interior and subordinate institutions; the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development; Ministry of Tourism and Environment; National Civil Defense Agency; Water Resources Management Agency; State Authority for Geospatial Information; Security and Defense Innovation Center.

The decision stipulates that the unmanned aerial vehicles and systems will be carried out in any case by qualified and certified Air Force personnel or other Armed Forces structures.

Film images, photographs and other data obtained from the system of unmanned aerial vehicles are displayed in a dedicated command-control space at one of the locations of the Armed Forces, respecting the rules of classified information and the use of personal data.

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The 5.9-km long Llogara tunnel road in the south-western region of Vlora is a project of strategic importance, which is expected to have a major impact on development of the local economy and tourism in Albania’s south, significantly improving driving experience and quality, as well as shortening the drive time so that local and international visitors can reach their preferred destinations easily.

According to the Road Authority, in order to ease traffic and reduce travel time for holidaymakers heading to Albania’s southern coast during the summer tourist season, only cars, passenger vans and busses will be allowed for now.

The Authority said that heavier vehicles can use the existing old road.

The tunnel connects to the new Orikum-Dukat road, cutting travel time to the south and boosting this year’s tourism.

The project provides a new road link, replacing Albania’s notorious Llogara Pass, which features many switchbacks and can be particularly treacherous in winter time.

The Llogara tunnel road stretches from the Shën Eliza bridge in Dukat to the Palasa bridge, marking a major investment in the country’s road network. It will shorten the driving time between Orikum and Palasa to just seven minutes from 55 minutes currently.

The Llogara tunnel is part of an ambitious infrastructure development package and the government’s strategy on development of the tourism sector in Albania.

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Attending the meeting as guests were Ervin Mete, Minister of Finance and Economy, Denis Deralla, Director of the Supervision Department at the Bank of Albania; as well as technical staff of the Ministry of Finance and Economy and the Bank of Albania.

Mete presented the draft law. He made a summary of the content, emphasizing that the draft law was prepared in cooperation with the Bank of Albania and in consultation with the World Bank and aims to create a legal basis for the payment account with basic services.

Among other things, the minister explained that the objective of this draft law is to promote the use of cash payments as little as possible and to increase the financial inclusion of the population, creating facilities for categories of consumers who belong to vulnerable groups, who have difficulty or find it impossible to open and maintain a bank payment account, due to the costs it carries.

“For all these categories, when they open accounts with basic services at second-tier banks, firstly, the law imposes the obligation that banks do not refuse to open an account for basic services and secondly, to offer services with zero fees in most of them, or with differentiated tariffs”, explained Mete.

The rapporteur of the draft law Milva Ekonomi assessed the importance of the draft law for promoting and increasing the financial inclusion of the population and underlined the importance of its drafting for the fulfillment of obligations within the EU integration process.

After questions and discussions, the committee approved in principle, article by article and in its entirety, the draft law in question, passing it on to the next plenary session for consideration. /r.e/p.s./

In her speech on the 10th anniversary of establishment of the ASIG, Balluku said that, “It can give a lot of help, starting with the road project, the coastline or the river beds and all the other problems we have with water basins”.

“The Ministry of Agriculture should use in detail the part of the product for the identification of agricultural lands and greenhouses. Through artificial intelligence, you have managed to identify the condition of a greenhouse, whether it is newly built, that is, newly invested or is an abandoned and unplanted greenhouse. All these are products that ministries, agencies, sectors should pay attention to and use to the maximum,” said Balluku.

Balluku said that, “One of the most important parts of the product that ASIG will issue is related to civil emergencies. In case we will use all the data that come from satellites and all the processing that is done by you using artificial intelligence or even other instruments, it will be one of the most important instruments to be used by civil emergencies, not only to react, but to be pro reactive and to come forward with an important part of the problems”. /k.s/p.s./

In a statement to the media after the government meeting in Tepelena, Rama said that, “We are transforming e-Albania platform. You will see that E Albania will communicate with the citizens at the beginning of the season after the holidays. There will no longer be a need for a help desk, but the citizen who will enter e-Albania will be accompanied by artificial intelligence, just as if he were accompanied by someone behind the screen in real time. In the same way, we will include co-governance platform in this process, too”.

“Within the year, I believe we will have the virtual companion with voice and image. So e-Albania will no longer be simply in writing, but you will get face-time and you will communicate with e-Albania, who is like a real person, but who knows all the elements you need and dictates how to perform the service” , Rama said. /p.s./

Also present were representatives from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy, Enea Karakaçi, General Director of Industry and Energy Policies and Development and Rudina Banushi, Director of Development Programs in the Field of Energy and Energy Efficiency.

The purpose of this draft law is to improve the basic legal regulatory framework of renewable energy in Albania, taking into consideration the various findings and recommendations of international organizations.

During the hearing, those present discussed the content of the draft law, as well as shared ideas and gave their proposals and suggestions in its special articles./p.s./

The law entered into force on June 1, but the authorities decided to allow for an one-month period to inform citizens and businesses on the ban of the single-use plastic bags before penalties and fines were to impose on violators of the legislation.

A study from 2016 found that people used three single-use plastic bags per day, translating to 3.2 billion per year or 26,300 tons.

Albania has banned by law production, import and sale of disposable plastic bags, including those that are defined as oxo-degradable or oxo-biodegradable. The legislation excludes those with a thickness of at least 70 microns that can hold a minimum of ten kilograms. They can’t be smaller than 50 times 24 centimetres in size.

The government expects the pollution to be lowered by 8% within two years with the new rule.

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Prime Minister Edi Rama shared a video in the social media on Saturday afternoon showing how some of the citizens responded regarding this issue.

“Here are some answers to the question of whether Albania should allow the state-controlled cultivation, processing and export of cannabis for medical purposes, without legalizing it for personal use,” PM Rama said.

In answer to this question, a young woman said that, “If many generations before us used it, why shall we not use it today”. Another young man said with full conviction, “Yes, it should be legalized”.

“Health is above everything else and if it is for the benefit of good health why should we not use it,” said an old man. While another old woman said she was against. Another young woman said that, “Since the world has legalized it, we should also do the same”. /a.a/p.s./