The conflict between two natural gas businessmen, Ilir Karcini and Pirro
Bare, has started years ago and is based on his fight for a market. In
2011, after having problems with the concession of the Vlore Bay oil
tanker, the natural gas companies were obliged to transfer their
activity to Porto Romano.
In 2004, the government had given in concession the construction of an unloading terminal. The owner of the concessionary company is Pirro Bare. The imposed replacement of the oil companies in Porto Romano reinforced Bare’s business position. He owes two natural gas companies, Intergaz Sh.a and Av Gaz.
The first clashes started in 2011, when gas importers – Karcini one of them – accused Bare of intentionally putting obstacles to the downloading, only for reinforcing his positions. Bare claimed by then that the gas companies had documentation problems.
The case went to the Competition Authority, which fined Bare and ordered him to allow the downloading of other companies. The case was resolved, but the clashes between Karcini and Bare returned one year later.
This time, the Fier businessman, owner of “Prima Gaz”, filed a complaint at the Competition Authority, claiming that Bare was blocking the gas download for his company once again, and didn’t respect the queue.
The case was investigated once again, but the authorities found no violations. But having control over the monopoly gave Bare plenty of advantages. His companies increased the market share from 30% in 2011 to 70% today.
The other rival companies started leaving the market one after another in bankruptcy, such as the Mare Oil. The loss of this market seems to be the main cause why Karcini paid 120.000 EUR for Bare’s elimination, which remained an attempt after Julian Sinanaj was arrested.
But this is not the first case when Karcini’s name became public. Seven years ago, together with Skender Moniku, he has been reported by the Greek businessman, George Vourvachis, of being robbed of 70% of the shares of his “Viakel gaz”, which later turned into “Prima Gaz”.
This even was used by then even by the Prosecutor General Theodhori Sollaku, close friend of Karcini, now his defensive lawyer.
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