The post-earthquake reconstruction programme is delivering on new residential complexes as more local residents are moving into their new homes in the worst-hit areas across Albania. The keys to the new homes were handed over to the citizens in the town of Golem after their houses were destroyed two years ago, taking the number of the quake-affected families moving into new homes in Kavaja to 221.

The reconstruction sites in the town of Kavaje, one of the areas worst hit by the powerful earthquake in November 2019, have now given way to modern residential complexes with the newly-built apartment blocks marking the start of a new life for the families that lost their homes in the devastating tremor.

Prime Minister Edi Rama visited Golem to join local residents as they move into their new homes.

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Hello everyone and thank you very much for the hospitality!

I decided to join you today as the Mayor really wanted to hold this ceremony here, although the new homes have been handed over to the affected families already, but given that  a part of local residents here live abroad, but whose apartments were housed in the quake-damaged residential buildings and, on the other hand, the rest of affected families have received the keys to their homes, it was important that I attend this event also to honour the Mayor’s request, but also to go on with the message that every quake-affected families and the ones that lost their houses, and all of those who were involved in the reconstruction process will receive their new apartments.

Not only that, but they will be provided with much better, more beautiful and much stronger houses than the ones they lost in the devastating earthquake, houses that, after having looked into the social structure of these families, would have been unable to build on their own and houses that, as we have said since the very onset, will be properties under ownership of the affected families and provided totally for free.

We have seen many similar reconstruction programmes launched by other countries in the wake of a powerful earthquake, but this is the only programme, as far as I know, providing the affected families with new homes totally for free, 100% for free, without forcing them to apply for a soft bank loan, and of course we are doing this, because we are fully aware these are not the best of times, not only for us, but for the entire world and Europe in particular and it would be unfair that these families  – which  as I already said are mostly low-income families – were to be forced to pay even a single cent. These are now your homes and you are owners of these houses that you can sell or rent them out and every other transaction, just like everyone else does.

In the meantime, we are committed to keeping the electricity price for the household consumers and small business unchanged. Such a decision has had a role in slowing down the inflation rate and if compared to other countries in the region, Albania has the lowest inflation rate.

The reason why decided to postpone enforcement of higher electricity rates for the households consuming over the 800kW consumption cap in October, although the decision wouldn’t affect the majority of consumers, was because of the fact that the need for electricity decreased more than we projected, either because of a new energy saving approach or because of the recent rains, which has increased domestic generation and lowered energy imports. However, October is not the most challenging month. The electricity consumption is expected to soar with the cold weather in November, December and it is expected to reach its peak in January. However, we would like that the possible application of the 800kW consumption cap completes by December at most.

So, please, we will be doing our part. On our part, we will do whatever it takes, but if every household consumer, every small business do all their part by not consuming electricity if not necessarily, we would be safer as we move ahead on this so fragile path, because, I repeat, we want to keep the electricity price unchanged and we don’t want to apply power cuts.

In the meantime, I also think and I am confident that with the immediate pay rise that has already entered into force and will become a reality for the coffers of many households, starting with the pension and everything else, it will provide significant relief to the citizens vis-à-vis the war-driven inflation and just like we succeeded in coping with the previous crisis we will also successfully cope with this ongoing crisis, although it is somehow an incredibly tough challenge and given that it is the third crisis in a row it would take stronger patience, willingness and determination.

Thank you very much!