A conference entitled “Beyond Borders– Towards a Sustainable Energy Market” brought together a group of leading companies operating in the United States and the European Union energy markets to discuss ways of cooperation in the energy sector and express readiness to contribute and participate in implementation of the ambitious plan designed to transform Albania into a net exporter of electricity and become a regional champion in energy production in the Balkans.

Thanking the participants for demonstrating their readiness and interest in delivering on this joint effort, Prime Minister Rama said:

“I would like to wholeheartedly thank you all for coming to Tirana and for showing your interest so that we can together deliver on what it is actually a major and ambitious programme of change for Albania, a programme of change for the region and it is definitely an added value that such a change can become a reality through channelling the efforts and energies of stakeholders that are arriving and coming from the United States of America, from Europe, Azerbaijan and I very much hope that many others will join us in the future.

It was several days ago that I had the honour of visiting President Aliyev and I was very pleased to feel and witness his interest to join and participate in the Ionian-Adriatic Pipeline (IAP) project, which could become yet another big game changer in our region, but that at the same time it can be a power, a fresh energy for Europe to gain independence from Russian gas as soon as possible.

On the other hand, I am also very happy to witness the progress that has been made as part of the work on transforming the thermal power plant in Vlora into a power generation plant. In the meantime, work is full steam ahead on wind power projects and a lot of work is also underway to make the long-time dream about the Skavica hydropower plant come true, a project that is designed to increase generation of the hydroelectric power by 20%, at the same time allowing and giving us a push towards the energy independence.

I have to thank the American ambassador because she has been the cornerstone in opening a door for real work and really major investment projects in our country, projects that have to do with the most fundamental part of our daily life, namely power supply and energy dependence. I have to say that after 30 years of supplying us with principles and standards, most recently the US is really giving us fuel and energy. 

Let’s together deliver on what is really a major and ambitious program of change for Albania, a programme of change for the region and it is definitely an added value that such a change can become a reality through channelling the efforts and energies of stakeholders that are arriving and coming from the United States of America, from Europe, Azerbaijan and I very much hope that many others will join us in the future.