“TBM Tirana 2017”, Gjiknuri: Projects of interest in infrastructure and energy

Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Damian Gjiknuri, was present today at the Forum organized by the Tirana Chamber of Commerce and Industry, ‘Tirana Business Matching 2017’. At the meeting were also present the Prime Minister, Edi Rama, cabinet ministers, head of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Nikolin Jaka as a foreign and domestic entrepreneur. In his speech, Minister Gjiknuri emphasized that in the framework of all government policies, priority is given to foreign investments in Albania. Responding to the interest of the present, regarding major projects such as TAP or Devolli, Gjiknuri said that any major investment brings a chain of other investments,therefore he said there is to no need to worry, if a major investment is over.

Regarding infrastructure projects, Minister Gjiknuri said that the Albanian government has serious plans in this area as well. “We have just received the first bids and we are in the review phase to draw the winners of the bypass of Fier and Vlora and this infrastructure will open up other areas for investments in this area,” he said. In future projects, Minister Gjiknuri mentioned investments in the railroad, starting with the line Tirana – Durrës – Rinas, which is expected to be contracted next year thanks to a loan from EBRD. Regarding renewable energies, Gjiknuri said they have started the first steps and underlined that early next year is expected to be organized the first big auction for a serious 30-mega mega plant to produce solar power. In conclusion, Gjiknuri expressed assurance that Albania will have a large investment flow, which will encourage other investments in tourism as well.

Regarding the energy sector, Minister Gjiknuri said that it is one of the sectors that has held the largest share of foreign investments, while stressing that the Albanian government is also promoting infrastructure investments.

“The electricity sector will be a sector that will continue to absorb foreign investments. The Devoll’s project is over but today we are talking about some other important projects that will be held in Kalivaç and Poçem. It will be an investment of over 120 million euros, in addition to that of Poçemi, in this cascade of the lower part of Vjosa. We will stand to the official commitment since Kalivaçi and will not build hydropower because of environmental sensitivity and to announce this area as a National Park. Only these two projects will generate a direct investment of 220 million euros that are 1/3 of Statkraft’s HEC, a huge investment in recent years, “said Gjiknuri.

Among other things, the Minister of Infrastructure and Energy said that the Ministry is investing in the chromium processing industry in Elbasan and Mat, whose capacities he underlined are in a tendency to increase and bring production to the country. Gjiknuri said the completion of the TAP project will bring another wave of investments into Albanian territory, opening up opportunities for gasification of the country, for example in the Fier area, which fully justifies gasification.