Press statement by Prime Minister Edi Rama after meeting with Ballsh oil workers:
Prime Minister Edi Rama: This is one of the moments when you feel fully the privilege of serving in this position. I am pleased to state that the support we have made available to 870 oil workers and staff has met positive reaction by them and of course in the context of this difficult time, when, like never before in my experience in this post, we should make prudent calculations given the unpredictability of the COVID-19 pandemic situation. It is not easy at all, but, nevertheless, we are convinced that we have done the right thing, by determining a 12-month gross salary of 55. 000 lek and net salary of 40.000 lek, so that these people have full social and health insurance coverage paid, having at the same time also the guarantee of a fairly reasonable salary, taking into account the difficult situation they have gone through.
– How far has the government progressed in its efforts to find an investor, as you already said in the previous meeting? Are you working on finding an investor that would restart the Ballsh oil refinery?
PM Edi Rama: Let me enjoy this very positive and human moment, where we have really shared our thoughts and discuss their plight together, once again materializing our motto that nobody will be left alone and that we will do whatever is possible on our side to help everyone in need. Of course, our opportunities are not limitless, yet this group of workers deserves special attention for the fact that they represent a specialized human resources contingent with special skills in this vital sector of the economy and for the fact that we have not given up as far as the refinery is concerned, despite the fact it requires a significant investment because of its obsolete technology. However I do not shy away from the answer. We continue the process intensively. We have given enough time, I believe, to these people to breathe freely and as soon as an investor takes over the refinery and makes it operational, they will no longer need this support, because they will receive their considerable salaries from their work.
–Is it true that a number of companies have shown interest in restarting the oil refinery?
PM Edi Rama: I would refrain from making concrete comments. We have established contacts with three big and important companies, but the time we are living in is actually challenging. It is a problem we have encountered in a series of our projects, and just like we are fighting in this direction, we are also making efforts about construction of Vlora airport. Fortunately, we have very good news about the major project, which is set to become the largest foreign investment ever taking place in Albania in the amount of 1.2 billion euros for the construction of the most important part of the Blue Corridor project, stretching from Milot to Fier. Likewise, we are also working to finalize two other important projects, namely the Durres and Vlora ports, as well as the project on Saranda airport. Delivering on the efforts to materialize all these projects would have been a lot easier should the COVID-19 pandemic was not to take plase. However, I don’t want to set deadlines, but I am confident that the refinery will restart within a reasonable time. Thank you!
