FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
While some countries in the region have taken measures to cope with the increase in fuel prices, in Albania a concrete decision to intervene in the market has not yet been made.
The price of oil in the Albanian market has marked another increase this Tuesday. At the main trading points, a liter of oil is being sold for 198 lekë, increasing by 25 lekë since March 4, when the first price increase was recorded.
While some countries in the region have taken measures to cope with the increase in fuel prices, in Albania a concrete decision to intervene in the market has not yet been made.
The Ministry of Economy has held a meeting with hydrocarbon companies to discuss the fuel supply situation and price increases. During this meeting, the main topic discussed was strengthening controls over companies operating in this sector.
According to information, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Energy are expected to increase daily controls on fuel trading entities. If violations or abuses are found, punitive measures are foreseen, ranging from seizure of the activity to fines up to ten times higher than currently.
On the other hand, the Ministry of Finance has prepared a plan of measures to keep the situation under control, but the return of the Transparency Board is not foreseen, nor is a review of fuel taxes.
Meanwhile, Konfindustria calls on the government to take steps to build a plant for processing Albanian oil, warning that otherwise the price of oil on the market could very quickly reach 250 lek per liter, as happened at the beginning of the war in Ukraine.
"Konfindustria urges the government to begin the construction project of the Albanian oil refining plant as soon as possible, as the most effective way to cope with the unforeseen economic and national security consequences of the war in the Persian Gulf. In this case, it is requested that the 2026 Budget be amended, with the aim of quickly including the construction of the Albanian oil refining plant in the country as a state investment. It is also requested that the organization of production, trade, fiscal burden and the current monopolization of the entire hydrocarbon market be fundamentally improved.
It is completely unacceptable that Albania, as a country with large oil reserves, is completely dependent on imports and price movements in world markets. The price of oil in the Albanian market is reaching the limit of 200 lek/liter and is expected to quickly risk exceeding the limit of 250 lek/liter set in 2022 in the event of the start of the war in Ukraine. The construction of the Albanian domestic oil processing plant is the most effective permanent means to alleviate the devastating economic and financial consequences of supplies and price movements in international fuel markets," the reaction states.
Lini një Përgjigje