THE ‘SOFT’ IMPORTANCE OF ENERGY MODELLING TOOLS AND THEIR ABSENCE IN ALBANIA’S DELIVERY STRATEGY OF ENERGY SYSTEM

Energy is essential for all human activities, and its availability is critical to economic and social development. Energy is the engine for the production of goods and services across all economic sectors. Lack of energy is a contributing factor to the poverty of individuals, communities, nations and regions. Energy mix visions and strategies are determining an important part of our world’s future prosperity and welfare. Choices made now are important for future generations. Energy trend forecasting, scenarios and system analysis have matured into powerful modelling tools for providing advice on optimizing our future energy solutions. The choice of the model and its effectiveness for developing energy supply strategies critically depend on the underlying vision for achieving a future energy mix. Knowledge advancement and exchange are more important than ever before, because this will stimulate and optimize the vision sharing and further the integration of today’s diverse energy strategies. In this regard, in Albania there is an absence in applying this tools. This article aims to demonstrate the vital importance of this tools to create a sustainable future, moreover in Albania where the energy sector is facing financial and management difficulties and lack of vision

ENERGY UNION: THE EUROPEAN UNION AND THE SOUTHEAST ENERGY COMMUNITY FACING NEW GLOBAL AND REGIONAL CHALLENGES

Issues relating to energy are among the most important and difficult challenges confronting the world today. Providing sufficient energy to meet the requirements of a growing world population with rising living standards will require major advances in energy supply and efficiency. Given the dynamic and unpredictable form of supply and demand for energy in a global and globalized context, creating long-term policies as well as regional interior is vital to ensure energy security. Europe is emerging from a deep financial and economic crisis and it is widely agreed that stronger European industrial competitiveness is vital as a driver for economic growth and job creation. In this context, the European Union, - as a main global actor- throughout the reform of the energy sector, wants to be on the cutting edge in the use of new technologies and the creation of a single energy market, not only inside the twenty eight member countries. Balkan countries have an important role in this process, which takes place inside the Energy Community. In these conditions, this article aims to analyse the recent transformation on European Union energy policy and provide an analysis of the commitments undertaken by Albania as a member of the Energy Community

The Model to Assess the Implementation of Technical Conditions Defined in Annex IV of Marpol Convention 73/78: The Case of the Baltic Sea Port of Klaipeda

Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission members seeking to implement MARPOL 73/78 Annex IV amendments which recognize the Baltic Sea as special are, in which discharge of uncommitted sewage from passenger ships is forbidden, must ensure that ports are equipped with adequate reception facilities. To ensure implementation of amendments of Annex IV in port of Klaipeda, the analysis framework model was defined by authors. The model evaluates the readiness of the port to changes brought by the amendments of MARPOL Annex IV. The scientific problem comes with perception of adequacy. Resolution MEPC.200(62) amending MARPOL 73/78 Annex IV states, that port reception facilities must be adequate to the needs of passenger ships using them without causing undue delay. Concept of adequacy is not defined, therefore other guidelines explaining adequacy were used: EU directive 2000/59/EC and IMO resolution MEPC.83(44) Guidelines for ensuring adequacy of port reception facilities. Based on these sources, criteria that must be met to ensure adequacy were identified and tested in article: 1) reception facilities meet needs of ships normally using them; 2) discharge of sewage does to cause undue delay; 3) reception facilities does not provide disincentive to use them; 4) facilities are accessible; 5) facilities contribute to the improvement of the marine environment