Energy crisis forces power cuts in Albania

The public is frustrated and businesses are losing money due to the problems Albania has had in keeping up with electricity demands.

Since 1990 Albania has suffered regular electricity shortages. Dried-up hydropower plants, lack of domestic production, and difficulties with energy imports have again put residents in the dark this winter.

The Albanian power corporation KESH has said it is urgently looking to increase electricity to avoid complete shutdowns of its main hydropower station due to lack of rain. According to KESH head Andi Beli, scarce rainfall has dried up lakes at the hydropower plants in the north.

KESH has imposed up to 12-hour daily power cuts throughout the country. Hospitals, government institutions, bakeries, and police stations were all given priority, though these institutions are also affected.

“The only way out was to increase imports,” Beli said, adding that KESH is ready to buy 9 million kwh from neighbouring Greece. Economy Minister Genc Ruli visited Athens on January 11th and received a confirmation that Greece is ready to increase its energy exports to Albania.

Southeast European Times