In 2013 electricity production amounted to about 7 million MWH marking the highest value of the last three years. Production increased 47% versus the previous year, confirming the positive performance of this sector in the country.
Energy was produced 100% from large and small hydropower plants, while the production of power plants has been closed since 2008, with the closure of Fier termocentral and the of Vlora TEC.
Expansion of hydropower production is due to rapid growth of private operators who have taken under concession agreements with Albanian government the right to bulid small hydropower plants in different areas of the country. Energy, is one of the most potencial sectors of the national economy, therefore it has attracted hundreds of million euro investments in the construction of hydropowers in the country from domestic and foreign investors.
The expansion of energy production has led the fall of imports. Imports were reduced 28% versus the previous year dropping to 2.3 million MWH in the end of 2013. This is the lowest level since 2010.
Exports culminated in 2013 to 1.4 million MWh, almost five times higher versus 2012.
Clearly, domestic manufacturers have sold a big part of the energy generated within the country in foreign markets, mainly in Kosovo and Greece. Electricity is considered today as one of the most potential products for Albanian exports to foreign markets.
Despite the increase in exports, the trade balance as difference of purchases against sales of electricity continued to remain negative. However is 3.8 times lower than in 2012. At the end of 2013 the trade of balance of energy amounted at around -900 thousand MWh, the lowest since 2006.