Conference and Exhibition on Albanian Natural Resources

Tuesday, 11 May 2010 08:37

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Conference and Exhibition on Albanian Natural Resources
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On May 11-12th,  2010 at the Palace of Congresses, Tirana, FIAA and Elida Co '94 is cooperation with Ministry of Economy, Trade and Energy and support of Ministry of Public Works, Transport and Telecommunications organized the second edition of the conference and exhibition on Albanian  Natural Resources named ”Albania, a Destination for Investments”.

This important event was inaugurated from the Premier of Albania Mr. Sali Berisha, with the participation of the Minister of Economy Mr. Dritan Prifti as well as other honored guests from Albania and internationally. 

The aim of the activity is promoting the country’s natural resources to Investors & Traders who can develop their businesses of mutual interest in various opportunities provided in Albania as well as getting the economic priorities of the government, business and international institutions.

The Exhibition presented: the Albanian priority sectors on: energy, mining, oil and gas, infrastructure, etc and Several existing domestic and foreign investors operating in the above mentioned sectors.

Whereas the Conference presented: A well designed integrated technical program with focused sessions and New services offered to delegates and exhibitors in ever-increasing possibilities to meet the right people.  

In order to learn more about this activity please read the articles following and as well visit the event website www.albanianresources.com

Premier Berisha presents Albanian Natural Potentials to the foreign investors

Premier Berisha today greeted in the Conference of the Foreign Investors Association of Albania (FIAA) dedicated to the Albanian natural potentials. The Premier as well visited the exhibition with stands exposing the country natural resources, organized parallel to the conference.

In his remarks Premier Berisha presented the potentials of Albania highlighting in particular the energy sector and the exploitation of minerals.  

“Albania is not a big country in the European geography, but has great European potentials for European and worldwide business”- said the Premier.

The Premier highlighted the goals of Albania to become the energy superpower in the region and stopped at the government’s efforts to diversify energy production, big projects in the hydro power area, eolike (wind) and biomass energy, fossils such as oil and gas etc. “Albanian oil in well known areas is up to 6 milliard barrels. Only in Patos-Marinza there are 2 milliard barrels. Next year the production is expected to fulfill the country’s need and as well for the future”- expressed the Premier. 

Another potential area for investors is mining, and Albania is very rich with chrome, nickel, basalts, copper. Mountains of Albania hide infinite mineral treasures, whose market is ever growing as the interest of big companies”- expressed the Premier.

Furthermore, in his speech the Premier Berisha highlighted the potential and big projects of Albania in these areas.

“It is a great pleasure to greet this conference and express my deep gratitude for the investments and excellent projects that you have realized and will realize in Albania and as well, repeating myself I express the government’s engagement that we will do the utmost for a friendly and safer environment for you, your projects and undertakings.

Today in the second edition of your second conference you have selected to treat and extraordinarily and important perspective for Albania, its great natural potentials. Albania is not big place in the geography of Europe, but has great European potentials for European business and worldwide. 

Albanian Potentials in the energy sector at present are among the biggest. In this context with pleasure I shall inform you that the government has signed over 200 contracts for 200 hydro powers, one of which is the greatest project in Europe, the cascade of Devoll given to EVN and Statkraft. From these hydro powers, 36 are under construction, others are waiting investors to start up. I would stop at this moment. Allow me to remind you the beginning of 2007, this story did not exist. Albania had no activity and no projects. Everything started up with the strong will and excellent law of concessions and public private partnership. The new law we have approved gave greater guarantee to the investors, constructors and planners. The law gave greater guarantee in the competition. This law does not allow direct negotiations for the government for any company, but guarantees investors an honest competition and not punishment. Great interest is being shown for other cascades such as Vjosa, Seman, Osum and branches of Drin and other rivers in the country.

Besides the unprecedented competition to exploit great water potentials of concentration of the energy sector, great interest is being shown from companies in the production for the eolike (wind) energy and other sources energy such as biomass or other forms. The Government has licensed over 1600 Megawatt eolike and biomass energy and is under process another for 3200 Megawatt.

The perspective of Albania in the energy sector is real also for fossils, oil and gas. Albanian oil has real perspective. It arrives to 6 milliard barrels. Only Patos Mariza has over 2 milliards barrels. Next year it is expected that the country completely fulfils its needs. But Albania has other unexplored areas such as Dumre, North Albania and many other areas. Thanks to its geographic position Albania is the most suitable country for the territory of the pipeline passage. All those that by-pass Albania are destined for very expensive investments, than if they operate through the Albanian territory. Trans- Adriatic pipeline is doubtless the most feasible pipeline and I guarantee it will be the faster to be built. Discussions upon others will not yet be over, but this pipeline will become reality. Big companies from Switzerland, Norway and Germany are engaged for its construction and the respective governments of the territories where the pipeline passes too. Turkey is engaged to provide all facilities with its undertaking Botash, the Greek and Albanian governments as well to make it reality. It has shorter trajectory than the South Strem with at least 200 kilometers. The quantity of gas in the Kaspik is ever increasing, there are trillions and trillions square meter gas expecting for export. The government of this country has the strong will to export its gas to Europe. It has carefully selected this pipeline as the main route of gas transport to the West. The Albanian Government continually contacts with the government of Katar. One of the most powerful nods of the re-gasification it is foreseen to be constructed In Seman, but as well for energy production based on combustible gas.

My government is continually preparing the legal framework in order that Albanian benefit from pure and constant energy, nuclear energy. The FIAA’s President has made and excellent study in the German Universities and ascertained that bitumen sands of Albania are industrially suitable for the energy production. Thus, Albania is towards the converting into a small energy superpower in the region. I appreciate and congratulate your interests and that of your partners in Albanian and worldwide.   

Albania is one of the richest chrome countries in the world. For decades it was world factor for chrome production that has uninterrupted growth. The country is richer with nickel as well. Albanian ferro- nickel and silicate are 2-3 time bigger that chrome’s. As well, the country is rich with copper, basalt and coal. In fact, its mountains hide infinite mineral treasures, whose market is ever growing and the interest if big companies is growing as well. Today, in the Albanian mines and the geologic blocks are engaged the most serious companies for Canada, Australia, Norway, Switzerland and many other countries. I am very glad that today among us is the mining school of France and we are very interested to have the best standards in this sector. Moreover, I inform you that Albania is member associate of the initiative for transparency of exploiting industries that groups the richest subterranean countries and assist them to financial transparency, assists for keeping environment criteria and cooperation with community. We have a deep study from the best high expertise experts of World Bank. One day I meet the Director of the Geologic Service of the European Union that told me that the World Bank Think Tank is the best of the planet, regarding mining. We are working with them to have the best criteria for their exploiting and exploration.

Albanian natural wealth are great but Albania greater wealth stands at the individual, the Albanian worker, who is strong, stable, young, educated, decided to have a better life. You do not find that market anywhere in Europe. This work market is the most excellent throughout the European continent.

The government is decided to make all efforts to facilitate your activities. Here you find the country with the low fiscal burden in Europe and I guarantee we are decided to continue to facility it further. Deep transformations have been made in this country. As you as well are witnesses we are building up infrastructure that in the three coming years with the newest and most modern of the region.

We are making all efforts that services towards you are the most modern. Today, business registers in 30 minutes and soon will register online. Today, Albania is the country of the Center of Unique Licensing and Permissions as we have removed 2/3 of them. In its one year activity this center is characterized as success story.

Once more I congratulate this conference and invite you not to forget that in every moment in this country there is a friend of yours, the Albanian government. Thank you!