The increase in the price of oil is not only making it more difficult to operate private public transport, but has also once again brought up the debate between the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy (MIE). Since May, public transport associations have been repeating their concern about not being able to cover the costs of the increase in the price of oil and about the duration of the period to benefit from the 50 lek per liter compensation for oil.
The National Association of Public Transport has repeated twice in August alone the request that the cost of operations remains unaffordable and that this will soon lead to a reduction in the means of transportation for citizens. But the postponement of the deadline for fuel compensation in transport seems to have once again caused a debate between the ministries of Finance, Infrastructure and Energy.
The Ministry of Finance has once again responded to the request of the National Association of Public Transport to extend the deadline for public transport compensation. The association has requested that the measure set out in Council Decision No. 341 continue for another three months, from June to August 2026.
The Ministry of Finance has forwarded the request to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy for consideration and evaluation. The letter states that the Ministry of Finance is ready to consider any proposal that may be submitted by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy.
"The National Association of Urban Transport, with the letter dated 06.08.2026, has submitted a request for the extension of the deadline for the implementation of the Council of Ministers No. 341, dated 13.05.2026, "On the determination of the procedures, documentation and compensation amount for urban, suburban and intercity transport line companies in the conditions of the special situation in the hydrocarbon market" for an additional period of 3 (three) months (June-July-August).
"Following the above, I kindly request that the request and assessment of the situation be handled within the scope of responsibility of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy. The Ministry of Finance expresses its readiness to consider any proposal that may be submitted by you," the letter from the Ministry of Finance to the Ministry of Economy states.
But it is not the first time that the Ministry of Finance has expressed its willingness to consider the possibility of extending the deadline for oil compensation by another 3 months.
Also with a letter dated May 21, 2026, the Ministry of Finance addressed the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy, requesting the review of our request within the scope of your institutional responsibility and expressing its willingness to consider any proposal that may be submitted by you.
Even in the last communication on August 20, 2026 between the ministries, the Ministry of Finance once again expresses its readiness to review any proposal that will be presented by the Ministry of Infrastructure. Therefore, it requests the proposals for review.
Meanwhile, the decision to provide compensation of 50 lek per liter, for a period of 3 months, less than what was requested by the transport associations from the government, was approved in mid-May.
The decision determines that the compensation will be calculated on the amount of fuel consumption for the period March, April, May 2026, but not more than the amount consumed for the same period in 2025, for each of the companies.
The financial effects are estimated at 250 million lek or about 2.6 million euros, which will be covered by 120 million lek from the state budget reserve fund and 130 million lek from the Tirana Municipality budget.
The deadline for applications for fuel subsidies for public transport operators ended on August 1. Due to the increase in fuel prices affected by the conflict in the Middle East, operators received compensation of 50 lek per liter for fuel in the period March-April and May. But interest in applying has been low.
According to data from the Urban and Interurban Transport Association previously made public to Monitor, out of about 140 operators across the country (110 operators carry out activities for intercity lines and 30 for urban transport in Tirana), only 35 have submitted applications or about 25% of the total.
The Chairman of the Urban and Interurban Transport Association, Dashnor Memaj, previously said that smaller operators, who only have one or two vehicles, have not been able to apply due to the lack of documentation proving fuel expenses./Monitor.al
