The National Water Operator is a new nationwide structure focused on managing all water resources in the country, with the aim of ensuring higher efficiency in the sector and delivering quality service to all consumers. Its establishment was presented today by Prime Minister Edi Rama and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Belinda Balluku, as part of the ongoing water supply and sewerage reform.

At the event held on this occasion, Prime Minister Rama underlined that the investments made so far in the sector have improved performance and strengthened accountability in management, while emphasizing that water production requires national-level operation—hence the launch of the second phase of reform.
“What we are doing with this second phase of reform is to guarantee in water supply the same success we achieved in electricity supply. Just as electricity supply today is no longer a problem, no longer a source of insecurity, anxiety, or alarm and by 2030, water supply in Albania should be the same” said Prime Minister Rama regarding the continuation of the reform.
Prime Minister Edi Rama: Good morning and welcome!

Today we want to share with the public an important step we will soon be taking regarding the establishment of the National Water Distribution Operator.
We have inherited a very dramatic legacy in the water sector, a sector that naturally requires major investments and responsible management. Over the past years, we have made large investments and strengthened administrative responsibility, but now we are convinced—also based on the progress of a reform undertaken a few years ago to involve the government in the shareholding of water supply companies, that there is no longer any reason to waste time or to believe in any alternative solution. In fact, this solution was suggested many years ago by experts and from successful experiences we have studied abroad.

The fragmentation of the water distribution system into 58 enterprises in the name of decentralization was a true catastrophe. High debts, poor management, strongly linked to the extreme politicization of human resources in these enterprises-combined with lack of expertise and the absence of investments in maintenance, led to highly unjustifiable situations.
At the same time, the central government has made massive investments. If we look at the map today, compared to 2013 when only 4 areas had 24-hour water supply and network losses were nearly 70%, the situation now is completely different.

In 2021, we took the first step by starting the process of merging companies. In fact, from 58 water supply and sewerage companies we created 15 regional enterprises, with the aim of improving performance and increasing accountability in management. Today we already see significant results. The Minister will present them in more detail, but they show one clear thing: the answer to this challenge is consolidation.

Today, 9 out of the 15 regional companies no longer generate debts to OSHEE. This is an extraordinary step forward. Efficiency has improved, other indicators as well the Minister will elaborate, but the core of this reform is what we must highlight: water in the sky is one thing, water at the tap is another. Once it enters the system, water transforms from a natural resource into a human product. It becomes a commodity that is collected, distributed, sold, and purchased, a vital commodity whose production and management require a national level operator.
For this reason, we are launching the second phase of the reform. At the same time, we will implement a strict plan of measures to stop abuses, again following the model of the energy sector.
This is the overall picture. Of course, we remain highly committed, with many red flags still to be turned green in terms of investment and integration of every sector into the new world of technology. The same applies to the water sector.

Finally, I want to stress that EU membership requires us by 2030 to reach a reasonable level of comparability in water supply standards with those of the European Union. This is achievable, but it requires reform, concrete measures, and accountable management.

Fortunately, as the case of Vlora has shown, we do have qualified human resources, knowledgeable, capable, and competent people here at the center, as well as across different territories. With their combined experience, such as that of leaders who have successfully managed utilities in northern regions, we can build the solid and sustainable core of the National Operator for Water Production, followed by the national system for distribution and supply.

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To conclude, I would like to summarize three points.

First, and this is important for the public following us, with this second phase of the reform we aim to guarantee in water supply the same success we achieved in electricity supply. Just as today electricity supply is no longer a problem, no longer a source of insecurity, anxiety, or alarm, and by 2030, water supply in Albania should be the same.
And just as we did with energy, the time has come to establish this national operator, which will in fact be the synergy of the 15 existing companies together with other law enforcement authorities, to finally draw the red line that municipalities never drew between those who pay and those who steal water.
Second, it relates to human resources. One of the fundamental problems in water supply has been the very low professional capacity of staff in the enterprises. I am convinced that the directors of these companies here have seen with their own eyes how few technically qualified people do the work.
We gave young technicians and engineers fresh out of school the chance to compete and be hired regardless of their family’s political affiliations, or whether they are completely apolitical, because our policy is to deliver the best possible service to citizens, not to use state-owned companies as places for favors. The same will be done with the National Water Operator.
Finally, I want to address the point the Minister made about Tragjas, and similar cases. Everyone must understand that the water resources of the Republic of Albania do not belong to those who live closest to them. They are the water resources of the Republic of Albania, and in our Republic, there are no “fortunate” people who happen to have water nearby and “unfortunate” people who live far from the source.

So today I believe we have given exhaustive information on what we intend to do with water. Our focus now will shift to the next phase of reform. These phases where necessary things could not be solved in one stroke. Now we will focus on creating the National Operator for Waste Treatment. Municipalities will handle collection, while the national operator will handle treatment, so we no longer face absurd or catastrophic situations due to lack of management capacity.
And, as I have tried to emphasize, we will also aim to do the best possible for nature, for the environment, and for expanding green areas in inhabited territories—not only in protected areas or uninhabited lands. People need to clearly understand that when an investment is made in water supply or in production capacity, that investment benefits everyone, even those who might initially oppose it.

Thank you very much. I hope we have been clear in what we presented today. And now, as the Minister mentioned, the next four months will be dedicated to intensifying our work so that the National Water Production Operator becomes operational in January of the coming year, which is approaching rapidly.