Albania Launches Bidding Round for Seven Blocks, With June Deadline

Albania is joining other Mediterranean countries in the new oil and gas rush in the region. Local officials confirmed on Monday that they remained committed to the bidding round for seven offshore and onshore blocks, explaining that they will accept proposals in the next month. 

The bids will be then analysed by the Natural Resource Agency, which will give its opinion to the Government in Tirana that will then negotiate the terms of the production-sharing agreement. 

According to Reuters, the deadline for the onshore blocks Four and Five in southern and southeastern Albania and Dumre is June 15, while the remaining blocks’ deadline is June 25. 

The exploration licence would last five years, with a 2-year window for eventual extensions. Production would be allowed for 25 years.

The offer comes in a key moment for the Mediterranean country, as Tirana has clear interest in leveraging on the current tensions between Russia and the EU in the Balkans to get closer to Brussels. Also on Monday, for example, Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn, met with an Albanian delegation led Mr Ditmir Bushati, Minister of Foreign Affairs. 

‘The SA Council welcomed the continued active participation of Albania in regional initiatives and structures in South Eastern Europe and its good neighbourly relations and constructive regional stance’ reads a note released by European authorities on Monday, adding that the reform of the judicial system remains a key challenge, while the overhaul of the public administration a key priority. 

The two delegations met during the first Stabilisation and Association Council after the European Council decision of 27 June 2014 to give Albania the status of EU candidate country. 

Also on Monday, European authorities are also holding talks with Turkey’s ministers.