Prime Minister Edi Rama unveiled on Saturday the government’s plan on the measures for the energy crisis.

“Our counteraction plant for the energy prices does not forecast any rise in prices for families and small enterprises, and no restrictions either”, declared the prime minister.

He also emphasized that the crisis is expected to last at least until summer.

The head of the Albanian government reiterated that the crisis will be “as challenging as the pandemic”, in addition to “even more grave monetary consequences if we don’t act”.

The plan to overcome the crisis will be based on three main pillars: guaranteeing constant energy power, protecting families and small enterprises from increased prices, and procuring financial means to buy energy.

The Prime Minister added that the government will allocate €200 million, with half of the amount going to the energy distribution company, and the other half to guaranteeing an uninterrupted energy supply and avoiding a price rise.

Rama asserted that the country is currently buying energy at a higher price than it is selling it, adding that this is due to the fact that the country purchases electricity in times of drought and sells it during humid weather.

“Albania does not produce all the energy it needs. We sell it at a lower price when the region does not need it, and we sell it in order to avoid floods. It is more expensive when we buy it because we go to the market when the need for energy is at alarming levels due to drought”, said Rama.

Also, Rama admitted that the oil price is the most expensive in the region, adding that this is due to including turnover and carbon tax in the overall price.

“We do not produce (oil) in our country as it is heavy oil and is mainly sold for by-products, mainly bitumen. We import approximately 600,000 tons of oil for annual consumption. It is true that it is the most expensive in the region because we also include the turnover tax, which other countries pay separately, as well as the carbon tax”.