The Hydrocarbons Sector in Albania: Short-Term Challenges and Long-Term Opportunities

Albania is a small country in the Western Balkans whose role in international politics throughout history has been minor, mainly due to its size, low economic potential, and the legacy of the Stalinist isolationist regime that was in place during the Cold War era. The inclusion of the country and its infrastructure in several gas and oil supply projects in the Balkan Peninsula in recent years, however, has enhanced Albania’s significance. Projected outcomes indicate a fairly poor future for the oil sector but a relatively strong potential for future development of the country’s natural gas sector.