The Albanian and Italian governments seem to have finally agreed to advance the major project for the underwater transmission line Vlorë – Bari. The project, which is estimated to have a cost of over 1 billion euros, would enable the connection of the energy system between the two countries, giving access to Albanian producers to export energy to Italy.
The Minister of Energy, Belinda Balluku, announced that the giant TAQA, the state-owned energy company in Abu Dhabi and the United Arab Emirates, could also be included in the financing of the project.
“With the General Director of TAQA, Jasim Husain Thabet, during the meeting of the two teams for the realization of the major project for the transmission line Albania – Italy,” Balluku posted on her Facebook profile.
Early draft:
In 1979, the Albanian engineer Sotir Andrea conducted a study ” On the possibility of connecting the Albanian 220 KV energy system with that of Italy” . The network would be used mainly for the export of electricity, via the Adriatic Sea, by means of a direct current cable.
During the last decades the idea has been reactivated several times, but until now everything has remained on paper. However, sources within the government say that this time the project has been widely discussed between the two prime ministers and Meloni has given his approval for its start.
Official sources from OST told Capital that within a few days the memorandum of understanding between the two national broadcasting operators, OST and TERNA, will be signed to pave the way for the feasibility study. According to them, after the feasibility study, the scheme will be determined, as well as the funding sources of the work.
New resources:
The rapid construction of new energy sources has necessitated the construction of new power transmission lines. Albanian private producers of electricity would have more access to European markets to sell energy.
Albania currently has transmission lines with Greece, Montenegro and Macedonia in progress, but the construction of a line with Italy would give Albanian producers access to one of the largest energy markets in Europe.
However, so far everything is still in the stage of preliminary discussions. Will the line construction project move forward this time, unlike in the past when it always remained on paper due to high costs? This remains to be seen, but many experts say that the time has come for this investment.
