
Former Prime Minister Sali Berisha again blamed the government for the energy crisis, which could force it to raise energy prices for consumers as well.
According to the former prime minister, the energy crisis in Albania did not come as a result of the war in Ukraine or the weather, but as a result of theft and looting.
For Berisha, in 2021 there was a record production of energy, but it was sold at a lower price than it was on the stock exchange, thus throwing a charge of stealing the difference.
" This is a fundamental problem of Albania, Europe, now in the shadow of the war, Russian aggression against Ukraine, has taken on greater proportions. Albania, the only country in Europe that has 3-4 times the price of energy for businesses and promises to increase the price for consumers. We are the only country that taxes oil over 1 euro per liter and has one of the highest prices in Europe.
Albania is not an island, it is part of the continent. Despite all this in terms of energy and its production, Albania is the country that should feel less than others the impact on the energy of the continent of Russian aggression on Ukraine, as its energy to the extent of 96-98% is entirely water and produced at a lower cost than in any other country. Energy production in Albania during 2021 is the highest in the historical record, it is about 8.9 billion kilowatt / hour.
So, given these factors and if we analyze the attitude in the management of the cascade water reserve, it is easy to conclude that the cause of the energy crisis is not the weather, it is not war, but it is looting and robbery in these enterprises.
There is no other country like Albania that empties the dams and sells energy for 42 euros when it is 130 euros on the stock exchange. This happened during the summer. Or buy energy for 300 euros at a time when that day on the stock exchange it was sold for 150 euros. We are dealing with a price increase dictated by mismanagement and theft. The one who sold the energy for 42 euros, he shared this energy with the buyer, as he once sold it at the stock exchange price. "We are dealing with a kleptocratic regime of these enterprises that are actually bankrupt as their debt has exceeded 1 billion euros ", said Berisha.