Albania exports 900,000 tons of oil, but road users face high fuel prices

Tirana, September 29, 2024 – Albania extracted nearly 900,000 tons of crude oil last year, a volume that could have met the country’s entire fuel demand. However, the absence of a functioning refinery meant the oil was exported, leaving Albanians to face high fuel prices.

In 2023, Albania produced over 891,000 tons of oil, similar to the 2022 figure but an increase of 200,000 tons compared to 2021, according to data from the General Directorate of Customs. Despite this production, the country imported 614,000 tons of refined oil to meet domestic consumption, as there is no refinery capable of processing the local crude.

Without local refining, Albanians are paying some of the highest fuel prices in the region, with diesel and gasoline costing around 177 lek per liter, and gas priced at 59 lek. Comparatively, drivers in neighboring North Macedonia and Kosovo pay close to 1 euro per liter, sparking frustration among citizens.

The value of crude oil produced in Albania last year reached nearly 40 billion lek (€400 million), most of which was exported to countries including France, Germany, Italy, Malta, Spain, and the United Kingdom.