Public transport operators are expected to benefit from compensation of 50 lek per liter for fuel for an additional 4 months, namely for the period June-September.
In principle, agreement to continue the measure was reached at the second meeting held this afternoon between representatives of public transport associations, operators and the Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Enea Karakaçi.
This was the second meeting with sector representatives, where the request for an extension of the fuel compensation deadline was discussed, in light of increasing operating costs.
Public transport associations requested that the compensation be 60 lek per liter, approximating the average increase in the price of oil during this period.
From the analysis of fuel purchase prices, based on invoices submitted by operators, it results that the average price increase for the period under review, June-September, is around 54 lek per liter, compared to the same period of the previous year.
In the coming days, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy is expected to propose a draft decision to extend the compensation period by another 4 months.
After the meeting, Kostandin Foni, president of the National Association of Urban Transport, told Monitor that the discussion with representatives of the sector and the ministry was positive, as the extension of the compensation period will create opportunities for operators to cope with the increase in costs and guarantee the continuity of public transport services.
"The 50 lek per liter measure is considered an important support for operators, giving them the opportunity to bear a significant portion of the increase in fuel costs.
The continuation of the compensation for the next 4 months aims to support public transport operators and guarantee the sustainability of the service, while in the event that the increase in fuel prices continues, the government is also expected to continue compensation for the sector, in order to cover the costs of the activity.
"In the meantime, discussions on other requests presented by the sector are expected to continue in the coming days. The next day, the associations' requests for measures needed to cope with the situation and increased costs will also be discussed in detail," he said.
Since September 1, public transport operators across the country have been operating with 70% of their bus fleet due to cost overruns. Since May, public transport associations have been reiterating their concerns about cost overruns from the increase in the price of diesel and the length of the period to benefit from the 50 lek per liter compensation for diesel.
The National Association of Public Transport has repeated twice during the month of August alone the request that the cost of operations remains unaffordable and that this will very soon lead to a reduction in the means of transportation for citizens.
Despite continuous requests and communications addressed to the responsible institutions regarding the compensation of fuel costs, operators continue to face the failure to receive compensation.
Associations have repeatedly raised concerns that this situation, combined with the high cost of fuel and other expenses necessary for the operation of the activity, has significantly affected the financial liquidity of operators and their ability to meet the daily operating costs of the entire fleet of vehicles.
Due to the increase in oil prices in March, operators received compensation of 50 lek per liter of fuel, for the amount of fuel consumed during March, April and May 2026./ Monitor
