Blackout hits all of Albania because
of defective transmission line
Jul 24, 2007 - The Associated Press
TIRANA, Albania All of Albania was left
without electricity Tuesday afternoon because of a
defect in a transmission line importing power from
neighboring Macedonia, the energy minister said.
The blackout began at 4 p.m. (1400 GMT).
Energy Minister Genc Ruli said on public television
TVSH that officials were working to restore electricity
first to Tirana, the country's capital.
This month, Albania has suffered serious
problems with electricity supply due both to difficulties
in importing and to problems with domestic production.
Domestic power production is based on
hydropower stations that have suffered from lack of
rain weather for more than a month.
Albania imports 5-6 million kilowatt
hours per day, and produces another 5-6 million -
a level that has resulted in shutdowns of up to 15
hours daily.
Post-communist Albania has suffered
regular electricity problems attributed to poor management,
an outdated distribution system and lack of money.
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