Open Data has conducted a research on exports and imports of oil. Albania is estimated to have relatively high reserves amounting to 400 million tons of oil . According to official sources of the National Natural Resources , about 40 million tons of oil are still unexploited. Patos Marinza is the area with the highest oil reserves in Albania. This area of 44 thousand hectares is the largest natural source of oil in the whole of Europe, with a production capacity of 7.7 million barrels of oil per year.

As a result of expansion of foreign investment, oil exports have been growing very rapidly from 2005. Oil exports to foreign markets at the end of 2012 amounted to 56.7 billion ALL, dominating the total Albanian exports . Compared with previous year, exports increased 36%, while compared to 2005 they have recorded an increase of 2,880 %.


Source: General Directorate of Customs
Comments and Analysis: ODA

The same positive trend  have recorded the exports in quantity , reaching to 1 million tons at the end of 2012. Compared with the previous year they have increased 36.3 % , but compared to 2005 they have expanded by 1193%.

Even in the first 10 months of 2013 , according to the General Department of Customs , the performance of oil exports continued to experienced positive trend by increasing in the levels of a year ago. At the end of October 2013, oil exports reached to 1.6 million tons .

Albanian oil exports are 2.4 times higher than the quantity of fuel that Albania imports for use in domestic consumption. In total , at the end of 2012 there were imported about 430 thousand tons of fuel. The amount of fuel imports has decreased in recent years due to the economic crisis and the reduction of vehicle use by consumers. The decline continued in 2013 , shrinking to 359 thousand tons.


Source: General Directorate of Customs
Comments and Analysis: ODA

Attempts to process domestic oil at the right quality for market consumption have failed, as a consequence of bad management of the public company “Albpetrol?, which has under administration Patos-Marinez field.

The largest company of oil exports is Bankers Petroleum Albania , which exploits Patos-Marinez field. Albanian oil because of its poor quality is processed to bitumen and then exported to foreign markets, where is being used for roads construction.


Source: General Directorate of Customs
Comments and Analysis: ODA

After 90?s, foreign companies have shown interest to invest in oil sectorin Albania through concession agreements with the government and Albpetrol company, engaged in the development, manufacture and tradeof crude oil and gas. Albanian government has an agreements for  exploration and production of oil and gas with companies such as: JV Islandrockall.

 Australian and Beach Petroleum Ltd. , Aries Albania Ltd. , a subsidiary company of Cairn Energy Company, Petromanas Albania GmbH , Bankers Petroleum Albania and Sky Petroleum. Other agreements were signed for the production and development of existing oil fields and gas with Bankers, Stream Oil & Gas , Petroleum and IEC International Sherwood Visoka.