During his speech at the “Albania Oil, Gas and Energy Summit 2015” two day summit, the Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama stated among other that the government has released for sale the state owned oil company Albpetrol. “We are all aware of the importance the energy system has in the programme of the government as one of the most important resource of the economic development of Albania,” stated Rama during his speech.
The Prime Minister announced that the respective institutions will conduct the seismic of free oil blocks and the organization of procedures for giving with concession of the free blocks on the coast. “2015 will be the finalization year of Albpetrol’s privatization process, in the frame of which we are cooperating with international partners,” declared Rama.
Albpetrol company counts more than 2000 employees which will be reduced to 1200 employees before the privatization of the company. The privatization process includes the privatization of permissions and licences Albpetrol company owns.
According to Primer Rama, the privatization of Albpetrol company will make a radical change in the functioning of this entity since Albpetrol will be divided by free oil blocks since these blocks will be in disposal of potential investors. “Albpetrol company does not have the financial and managerial capabilities to face the challenges the oil market represents nowadays”, said Rama.
Later he added: “It is of a huge importance for the government to be an active actor in this market by playing a regulatory role. We aim to enhance the cooperation between the government and foreign investors by eradicating the differences and the undertaken reforms by us serve to investors as an appeal for further investments in the potential Albania has to offer.”
Rama also spoke about TAP project, considering it as a unique moment and opportunity for the region of Balkan. “The inclusion of Albania in this project marks a new chapter for the development of the energy sector in the country and regional countries. We are working in the compilation of the Masterplan for the natural gas and the desertification of the energy resources in the country. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Energy and Industry is working in a special program for building technical capacities of gas in Albania,” declared Rama at the summit.
“We are heading towards EU energy policies which we consider as the key of the regional integration in order to use in full capacity the natural energy potential,” said Prime Minister Rama, adding that Albania has started working intensively in the reformation of the legal basis regarding this sector, which will simplify the procedures for investors.
News source/photo credits: ATA
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