On July 15, 2025, the Municipality of Elbasan hosted the Introductory Meeting of the Smart Energy Municipalities Project in Albania, welcoming four new municipalities from Southeastern Albania: Elbasan, Librazhd, Pogradec, and Pustec. This expansion of the project is accompanied by the introduction of local Energy and Climate Consultants, who will serve as advisors to the municipalities.
The meeting brought together representatives from the four municipalities, the Swiss Embassy in Tirana, and the project team. Mr. Gledian Llatja, Mayor of Elbasan, opened the event with welcoming remarks, expressing his appreciation for the initiative and emphasizing the importance of energy efficiency and climate action at the municipal level.
Following the Mayor’s address, Mr. Eduart Rumani, National Programme Officer at the Embassy of Switzerland, reaffirmed Switzerland’s support for the Smart Energy Municipalities Project. He highlighted Switzerland’s ongoing commitment to helping Albanian municipalities achieve their climate and energy goals through capacity building and technical assistance. He also thanked the participating municipalities for their engagement and underscored the importance of their contributions to national sustainability efforts.
Municipal Perspectives and Project Implementation
Representatives from Elbasan, Pustec, Librazhd, and Pogradec shared their current experiences and priorities in the areas of energy and climate action. Mr. Pali Kolefski, Mayor of Pustec, expressed his municipality’s eagerness to adopt a more structured approach to climate action, taking into account its unique geographical and economic context. Representatives from Librazhd and Pogradec also presented their initiatives and conveyed their enthusiasm for joining the project.
Project expert Mr. Meivis Struga provided an overview of the Smart Energy Municipalities Project, outlining its key activities and introducing EnerCoach—a tool designed to monitor municipal energy consumption and identify opportunities for improved energy efficiency. He also presented the role of local Energy and Climate Consultants and their support in establishing Municipal Energy Management Units and implementing EnerCoach.
